Abstract: A compressor bleed slot apparatus includes: an annular compressor casing; a stator vane row disposed inside the compressor casing; a blade row mounted for rotation about a centerline axis inside the compressor casing, axially downstream of the stator row; a bleed slot passing through the compressor casing, wherein the bleed slot is bounded by inboard and outboard walls defined within the compressor casing, the bleed slot having an inlet positioned axially between the stator vane row and the blade row, the bleed slot extending along a slot axis, at least a portion of the bleed slot lying within an axial extent of the blade row; an annular array of struts interconnecting the inboard and outboard walls; and an annular supplemental flange extending radially outward from the compressor casing, wherein at least a portion of the supplemental flange is axially positioned within an axial extent of the bleed slot.

Abstract: A warming device configured to warm an infant. The warming device includes a base that supports the infant and an overhead portion that includes an enclosure. An arm is coupled to the base and to the overhead portion. The arm supports the overhead portion above the base. A heating element is operated to generate heat to warm the infant. The overhead portion includes the heating element. A portion of the heat is dissipated into the overhead portion as a waste heat. A warming blanket has a stored state and a deployed state. In the stored state, the warming blanket is at least partially inside the overhead portion. In the deployed state, the warming blanket is outside the overhead portion. The warming blanket is designed to store the waste heat when the warming blanket is in the stored state and to warm the infant when in the deployed state.

Abstract: Through discrimination of the scattered signal polarization state, a lidar system measures a distance through semi-transparent media by the reception of single or multiple scattered signals from a scattering medium. Combined and overlapped single or multiple scattered light signals from the medium can be separated by exploiting varying polarization characteristics. This removes the traditional laser and detector pulse width limitations that determine the system's operational bandwidth, translating relative depth measurements into the conditions of two surface timing measurements and achieving sub-pulse width resolution.

Abstract: An underwater light including a programmable controller and a replaceable light-emitting diode (LED) printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) is provided. The light includes a controller PCBA in communication with the LED PCBA, and a connector for connecting the controller PCBA to the LED PCBA. An optically-transparent potting compound encapsulates the LED PCBA, and the LED PCBA can be safely replaced by removing a rear housing of the underwater light.

Abstract: A system and method for an accent lighting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of underwater luminaires each having a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a junction box controller housing a plurality of electrical components for generating electrical signals for controlling the plurality of underwater luminaries. The junction box controller can be mounted to an electrical conduit and a plurality of cables can connect the plurality of underwater luminaires with the junction box controller. An underwater luminaire can include a heat sink and a flexible circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the heat sink. The flexible circuit board transfers heat from the light emitting diodes to the heat sink. The underwater luminaire can also include a wiring harness for connecting the underwater luminaire to a cable. The underwater luminaire can also include a housing having a lens positioned at one end, an end cap mounted to an opposite end of the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a stair layout template that reduces the opportunity for errors when constructing a set of stairs. Embodiments also provide a method for using the template to construct a set of stairs. The template indicates to the builder where a particular set of marks are to be made on the insides (the sides where the tread modules are attached) of both stringers. These marks include the cut marks for the bottom and top ends of the stringers and the “screw set points” that indicate where the tread modules will be attached to the stringers. The template is reversible, with the mirrored markings on both sides, so that the process for one stringer is the mirror image of the other stringer.

Abstract: An underwater light having a sealed polymer housing includes a rear housing component formed at least in part from a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, an electronic assembly having at least one light-emitting element mounted thereto, the electronic assembly in thermal communication with the rear housing component, and a lens mounted to the rear housing component and forming a watertight seal therebetween, the lens and the rear housing component enclosing the electronic assembly. At least a portion of the rear housing component conducts heat away from the electronic assembly to cool the electronic assembly.

Abstract: An infant care station that includes multiple operational modules that communicate with each other to carry out the infant care station functions. The multiple modules form part of a micro-environmental platform that allows for communication and power connections between all of the operational components required within the infant care station. The multiple modules communicate with each other utilizing a universal interface bus that includes power connections, communication connections and control connections between the multiple modules. Sensor data obtained by various sensors is stored using a standard data format. A data repository is included in one of the modules and is used to store sensor data obtained from the infant patient, operational protocols and other information needed to operate the infant care station. The data repository provides a central location for both data producers and data subscribers that are part of the micro-environment platform.

Abstract: Through discrimination of the scattered signal polarization state, a lidar system measures a distance through semi-transparent media by the reception of single or multiple scattered signals from a scattering medium. Combined and overlapped single or multiple scattered light signals from the medium can be separated by exploiting varying polarization characteristics. This removes the traditional laser and detector pulse width limitations that determine the system's operational bandwidth, translating relative depth measurements into the conditions of two surface timing measurements and achieving sub-pulse width resolution.

Abstract: A wedge connector system for connecting first and second elongate electrical conductors includes a C-shaped sleeve member, a wedge member and a locking mechanism. The sleeve member defines a sleeve cavity and opposed first and second sleeve channels on either side of the sleeve cavity. The wedge member includes a wedge body having first and second opposed wedge side walls. The locking mechanism includes a lock member including a sleeve engagement portion, and a clamping mechanism coupled to the wedge member. The sleeve member and the wedge member are configured to capture the first and second conductors such that the first conductor is received in the first sleeve channel between the sleeve member and the first wedge side wall and the second conductor is received in the second sleeve channel between the sleeve member and the second wedge side wall.

Abstract: A method of making a trimmed, laminated trim component is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. Unwanted portions of the laminated sheet are trimmed.

Abstract: Electronic nondestructive inspection tools for timber distribution poles are provided herein. An electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a vibration sensor configured to perform a vibration measurement of a timber distribution pole. In some embodiments, the electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a processor configured to perform operations including estimating decay of the timber distribution pole, using the vibration measurement and a physics model of the timber distribution pole; and outputting an indication of the decay of the timber distribution pole. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: An infant warming system includes a body temperature probe, a peripheral temperature probe, and at least two identical input jacks, each input jack configured to receive either one of the first connector or the second connector. The body temperature probe has a body temperature sensor removably fixable to an infant's torso to measure a body temperature of the infant, and a first connector configured to connect to an input jack to transmit the body temperature measurement. The peripheral temperature probe includes a peripheral temperature sensor removably fixable to the infant's extremity to measure a peripheral temperature of the infant, and a second connector configured to connect to an input jack to transmit the peripheral temperature measurement. The system further includes a probe detection module to automatically detect whether each input jack is connected to the peripheral temperature probe or the body temperature probe.

Abstract: A wedge connector system for connecting first and second elongate electrical conductors includes a C-shaped sleeve member, a wedge member and a locking mechanism. The sleeve member defines a sleeve cavity and opposed first and second sleeve channels on either side of the sleeve cavity. The wedge member includes a wedge body having first and second opposed wedge side walls. The locking mechanism includes a lock member including a sleeve engagement portion, and a clamping mechanism coupled to the wedge member. The sleeve member and the wedge member are configured to capture the first and second conductors such that the first conductor is received in the first sleeve channel between the sleeve member and the first wedge side wall and the second conductor is received in the second sleeve channel between the sleeve member and the second wedge side wall.

Abstract: A system and method for an accent lighting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of underwater luminaires each having a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a junction box controller housing a plurality of electrical components for generating electrical signals for controlling the plurality of underwater luminaries. The junction box controller can be mounted to an electrical conduit and a plurality of cables can connect the plurality of underwater luminaires with the junction box controller. An underwater luminaire can include a heat sink and a flexible circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the heat sink. The flexible circuit board transfers heat from the light emitting diodes to the heat sink. The underwater luminaire can also include a wiring harness for connecting the underwater luminaire to a cable. The underwater luminaire can also include a housing having a lens positioned at one end, an end cap mounted to an opposite end of the housing.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated trim component is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. Interior portions of the sheets stretch during the step of pressing while remaining intact.

Abstract: A method of making a trim component having an edge-wrapped, fibrous decorative covering is provided. A fibrous decorative covering overlies and is in contact with an outer surface of a composite sheet. The composite sheet is pressed against an interior portion of the covering to bond the interior portion to the composite sheet while maintaining at least one exterior edge portion of the covering unbonded to the composite sheet. A molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet is injected in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one structural component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering. The at least one unbonded, exterior edge portion is folded over the composite sheet to form the trim component.

Abstract: A method of making a vehicle interior component having an integral airbag component is provided. The method includes disposing a polymeric composite sheet having inner and outer surfaces onto a first surface of a mold at a molding station and compressing the sheet between the first surface and a second surface of the mold at the molding station. The method also includes injecting a molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet into the mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one airbag component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but are low enough to reduce surface defects on the outer surface of the composite sheet.

Abstract: A method of making a vehicle interior component having an integral airbag component and a fibrous decorative covering is provided. The method includes providing a polymeric composite sheet and a fibrous decorative covering overlying an outer surface of the composite sheet. The composite sheet is pressed against the covering after the steps of providing to bond the covering to the composite sheet. A molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet is injected into a mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one airbag component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering.

Abstract: A method of making a trim component having a fibrous decorative covering is provided. The method includes providing a polymeric composite sheet having inner and outer surfaces and providing a fibrous decorative covering overlying the outer surface of the composite sheet. The method also includes pressing, in a mold cavity at a molding station, the composite sheet against the covering after the steps of providing to bond the covering to the composite sheet. The method further includes injecting a molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet into the mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one structural component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering.