Abstract: A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) supplies power to rotate a motor, controlling both the speed and direction. The method normally used for this power conversion by the VFD results in energy losses and line harmonics. When the motor is driven by the VFD to be rotating at the same speed and direction as if the motor was straight across the incoming AC power, a transfer in power supply to the motor can be made using contactors to bypass the VFD. When in this bypass mode, the energy losses of the VFD are greatly reduced, and the line harmonics due to the VFD are greatly reduced. When it is subsequently recognized that the speed reference has deviated from being the same speed and direction as if the motor was straight across the incoming AC power, a transfer in power supply can be made from using contactors to once again drive the motor from the VFD.

Abstract: A tracking system for reflecting electromagnetic radiation from a source to a target area, having at least one reflecting surface or mirror mounted to a support that fixes the reflecting surface orientation to focus electromagnetic radiation on the target area when the reflecting surface is at a first location at a first predefined time. The system has a path with at least the first location and a second location. The reflecting surface is movable along the path to maintain focus on the target area. The reflecting surface may have an orientation with a fixed declination angle and fixed hour angle. The source may include a moving source such as the Sun.

Abstract: A turbine blade including a root section at an end of the turbine blade, a first airfoil section adjacent to the root section, and a tip section adjacent to the airfoil section and including a material block that is incongruous with the airfoil section. A midspan section may also include a material block. Each material block can be selectively machined to customize the length of the turbine blade and the position of a tip shroud connection or midspan connection. The turbine blade can be sized for retrofitting last stage blades of older turbines. A radial position of the root mounts for the turbine blade may also be adjusted to provide further customization.

Abstract: A turbine blade including a root section at an end of the turbine blade, a first airfoil section adjacent to the root section, and a tip section adjacent to the airfoil section and including a material block that is incongruous with the airfoil section. A midspan section may also include a material block. Each material block can be selectively machined to customize the length of the turbine blade and the position of a tip shroud connection or midspan connection. The turbine blade can be sized for retrofitting last stage blades of older turbines. A radial position of the root mounts for the turbine blade may also be adjusted to provide further customization.

Abstract: Field balancing may be performed with an irradiation system including a plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters. The irradiation system powers the radiant-energy emitters from a power source and radiant energy is emitted from the radiant-energy emitters, where an amount of radiant energy emitted from each emitter is capable of being varied based on power received from the power source. A plurality of radiant-energy sensors detects an amount of radiant energy which includes radiant energy created directly by at least one of the radiant-energy emitters. The amount of radiant energy detected at least two of the radiant-energy sensors is compared, and at least one of the radiant-energy emitters is adjusted by varying the power received from the power source so that the amount of radiant energy detected at each of the radiant-energy sensors tends towards becoming approximately equal.

Abstract: A turbine blade including a root section at an end of the turbine blade, a first airfoil section adjacent to the root section, and a tip section adjacent to the airfoil section and including a material block that is incongruous with the airfoil section. A midspan section may also include a material block. Each material block can be selectively machined to customize the length of the turbine blade and the position of a tip shroud connection or midspan connection. The turbine blade can be sized for retrofitting last stage blades of older turbines. A radial position of the root mounts for the turbine blade may also be adjusted to provide further customization.

Abstract: A tracking system for reflecting electromagnetic radiation from a source to a target area, having at least one reflecting surface or mirror mounted to a support that fixes the reflecting surface orientation to focus electromagnetic radiation on the target area when the reflecting surface is at a first location at a first predefined time. The system has a path with at least the first location and a second location. The reflecting surface is movable along the path to maintain focus on the target area. The reflecting surface may have an orientation with a fixed declination angle and fixed hour angle. The source may include a moving source such as the Sun.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with hyperglycemia by administering a Zn-?2-glycoprotein or a functional fragment thereof, methods of decreasing plasma insulin levels, methods of increasing skeletal muscle mass, and methods of bringing about a weight reduction or reduction in obesity. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for use thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include an apparatus that can comprise any heating device, such as one having an outer surface adapted to contact items, such as sheets of print media, and a rotatable air outlet (vent, jet, blower, etc.) positioned next to the heating device. The air outlet can be, in one embodiment, part of a tube-shaped air pleneum. In some embodiments, the air outlet can comprise a slit, perforations, rows of jets, etc. and the air outlet can have a length at least as long as the width as the fuser. The rotatable air outlet can be positioned to blow air to remove the items from the heating device and can rotate from a first position to a different second position.

Abstract: A burn-in test system. A burn-in test system includes a device under test (DUT), a temperature controller coupled to the DUT, and a test controller. During testing, the test controller: (a) sets a parameter of the DUT to a first value and applies a test stimulus to the DUT, and (b) sets the parameter of the DUT to a second value and applies the test stimulus to the DUT. A change in the value of the parameter results in a change in the amount of heat dissipated by the DUT. The temperature controller maintains the DUT at a pre-determined temperature during testing with the parameter set to both the first and the second values. The DUT may be further coupled to a module that comprises circuitry employed in a product-level application environment. The module is configured by the test controller to simulate a product-level application.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for distributed wireless access. The system includes an access concentrator and a plurality of antenna modules. The antenna modules are spread across a campus and are coupled to the access concentrator via network wiring. Each antenna module includes an antenna to receive and transmit signals. When incoming signals are received at the antenna, the signals are converted from a radio frequency to a lower frequency. The converted signals are then digitized. The digital signals are then processed by digital signal processing resources at the access concentrator. Then, the processed signals are forwarded out of the corresponding ports to a LAN switch.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include an apparatus that can comprise any heating device, such as one having an outer surface adapted to contact items, such as sheets of print media, and a rotatable air outlet (vent, jet, blower, etc.) positioned next to the heating device. The air outlet can be, in one embodiment, part of a tube-shaped air pleneum. In some embodiments, the air outlet can comprise a slit, perforations, rows of jets, etc. and the air outlet can have a length at least as long as the width as the fuser. The rotatable air outlet can be positioned to blow air to remove the items from the heating device and can rotate from a first position to a different second position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments to facilitate the characterization of fuser stripping performance. Recognizing that the characteristics of a substrate exiting a fusing nip are indicative of the operation of the nip and the stripping operation itself, several contact and non-contact sensing methods are described to detect or predict degraded stripping performance, thereby permitting one or more compensation techniques to be employed, or to identify the need for fuser subsystem replacement.

Abstract: A system operating in an environment under a vacuum draw in which liquid accumulates utilizes the weight of the liquid to discharge the liquid from the system. The system includes a first holding tank and a second holding tank interconnected by a liquid passageway and an equalization passageway. First, second, third and fourth valves are provided for controlling flow into and out of the second holding tank. The valves are operated in a sequence to bring accumulating liquid from the first holding tank to the second holding tank in the vacuum environment, and then to discharge the liquid from the second holding tank to the environment outside of the system having a greater air pressure than the air pressure within the vacuum environment.

Abstract: Methods of modifying fibers, such as glass fibers, are disclosed. The modified fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: A brush card assembly 30 is provided for a permanent magnet brush motor 50. The motor includes a link wound, high speed side commutator 46 and an associated high speed side armature winding 44, and a link wound low speed side commutator 54 and an associated low speed side armature winding 52. The brush card assembly includes a brush card 31 including a high speed side having a positive brush 32 and a negative brush 32? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the high speed side commutator 46, and a low speed side opposite the high speed side. The low speed side has a positive brush 33 and a negative brush 33? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the low speed side commutator 54. The brushes are constructed and arranged with respect to the commutators to provide at least two different operating speeds of the motor.