Abstract: Systems and methods determine alignment between a wire and a laser beam in laser joining. A system for checking alignment of a wire relative to a beam of a laser includes a controller configured to align, by tooling, the beam with a sensor system. A laser generates the beam across the wire, with the beam directed to the sensor system. The sensor system measures light intensity of the beam. A processor computes a feature parameter representative of an alignment between the wire and the beam. The processor determines whether the feature parameter is within the process specifications.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Abstract: A device for preventing paint from drying in a cylindrical paint can, wherein the paint can has a wall with an internal diameter DI and an upper portal into the paint can, the upper portal having a diameter smaller than DI. The device consists of a circular planar base disc; and a slanted lip wall extending upwardly from said planar base disc. The lip wall forms a frustum of a cone having a central angle ?. The slanted lip wall has a first, upper diameter DB at an upper lip edge of the lip wall, a second, lower diameter DC at a connection of the slanted lip wall to the planar base disc, and a third diameter DM disposed between the upper diameter and the lower diameter, wherein DM is substantially equal to DI, and wherein DB>DM>DC and DB>DI>DC. When the device is installed over the paint residue in the paint can, the upper lip edge of the lip wall is deformed so that DB is substantially equal to DI.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a non-injurious ascension barrier for mounting on the top of security walls or fences. The invention is cylindrical in shape with the curved sides extending out from the sides of the wall or fence to which it is affixed to prevent the climber from reaching the top of the fence or the wall. The product is sufficiently rigid to prevent the climber from compressing the extending sides into handholes yet may be sufficiently flexible to bend vertically to horizontally to follow the contours of the wall or fence top as the wall or fence changes in elevation or direction to follow the contours of the land.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, one or more circuits disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a modification of any one of hardware, software or firmware of the electronic device that generates emission of electromagnetic energy from the semiconductor device with desired characteristic(s), without changing a designed interface functionality of the semiconductor device. Method are also provided for modifying the semiconductor device and identifying modified semiconductor device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communications network element that is capable of routing signaling messages and also performing inter-network management functions in a converged telephony-data network environment. A signaling gateway routing node is adapted to facilitate signaling communication between nodes in a signaling system 7 network and nodes in an Internet protocol (IP) type network. In addition to basic message routing functionality, the signaling gateway routing node is adapted to notify nodes in the IP network when a node in the SS7 network becomes congested or unavailable. In certain cases, the signaling gateway selectively notifies only IP nodes that are concerned with the status of the troubled SS7 node, while in other cases, notification messages are broadcast to all relevant IP nodes. The signaling gateway also serves to filter redundant congestion status queries or polling type messages that are conveyed from IP nodes through to the distressed SS7 node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communications network element that is capable of routing signaling messages and also performing inter-network management functions in a converged telephony-data network environment. A signaling gateway routing node is adapted to facilitate signaling communication between nodes in a signaling system 7 network and nodes in an Internet protocol (IP) type network. In addition to basic message routing functionality, the signaling gateway routing node is adapted to notify nodes in the IP network when a node in the SS7 network becomes congested or unavailable. In certain cases, the signaling gateway selectively notifies only IP nodes that are concerned with the status of the troubled SS7 node, while in other cases, notification messages are broadcast to all relevant IP nodes. The signaling gateway also serves to filter redundant congestion status queries or polling type messages that are conveyed from IP nodes through to the distressed SS7 node.

Abstract: A stereotactic head frame localizer having a plurality of fiducial rods disposed in a plurality of sides is disclosed. The stereotactic head frame localizer includes five connected sides with each side including a plurality of the fiducial rods. One of the sides may be removably attached to the stereotactic head frame localizer. The fiducial rods include a material or may be formed from a material that, in cooperation with a selected imaging modality (i.e. CT, MRI, or PET), will appear on the resulting image scan as image points. The fiducial rods may be disposed in an orientation that is horizontal, vertical, or diagonal to an axis of a body of a patient. The stereotactic head frame localizer may be used in cooperation with a head ring attached to a patient for determining the location of a target in an x, y, and z coordinate system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communications network element that is capable of routing signaling messages and also performing inter-network management functions in a converged telephony-data network environment. A signaling gateway routing node is adapted to facilitate signaling communication between nodes in a signaling system 7 network and nodes in an Internet protocol (IP) type network. In addition to basic message routing functionality, the signaling gateway routing node is adapted to notify nodes in the IP network when a node in the SS7 network becomes congested or unavailable. In certain cases, the signaling gateway selectively notifies only IP nodes that are concerned with the status of the troubled SS7 node, while in other cases, notification messages are broadcast to all relevant IP nodes. The signaling gateway also serves to filter redundant congestion status queries or polling type messages that are conveyed from IP nodes through to the distressed SS7 node.

Abstract: An air filter assembly for delivering clean air to primary and secondary components such as a vehicle engine and a catalytic converter of the vehicle, for example. Air flow sensors are calibrated to sense the amount of air flow going to the engine to ensure optimum engine performance. The air filter assembly segregates the air flow between the engine and catalytic converter in a manner that allows intermittent air flow to the secondary component without substantially affecting the continuous air flow to the primary component.

Abstract: A game call having a mouthpiece with an internal latex diaphragm and secured to said mouthpiece is a diaphragm plunger which is operable by pressing an artificial tongue-like pliable section into contacting with the diaphragm, thereby changing the pitch of the sound produced.

Abstract: A game call having a mouthpiece with an internal latex diaphragm and secured to said mouthpiece is a diaphragm plunger which is operable by pressing an artificial tongue-like pliable section into contacting with the diaphragm, thereby changing the pitch of the sound produced.

Abstract: The invention is a means for anchoring a degradation-resistant treated post or one protected with a conforming, protective cover into the ground so that it resists uplift or pull-out forces of a predetermined value without compromising the integrity of the treatment or protective cover. Anchoring is accomplished by applying indentations to the portion of the post to be embedded in the ground prior to applying the conforming, protective cover or the other material degradation-resistant treatment. The indentations on the post are configured such that the protective cover will conform to the irregularities when the protective cover is applied to the post. Indentations are applied to posts prior to application of any degradation-resistant treatments so that the integrity of the treatment is not compromised by the indentation.

Abstract: This invention relates to solid elastomers which exhibit reduced dimensional shrinkage, and to a process for the production of these elastomers. These elastomers comprise the reaction product of a polyisocyanate component or prepolymer, with an isocyanate-reactive component comprising a high molecular weight component having an EO cap having less than 17% by wt., a chain extender and optionally, a crosslinker, in the presence of at least one catalysts. These solid elastomers are produced via the reaction injection molding process in a closed mold, preferably at an isocyanate index of about 70 to about 130.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light weight carriers. Particularly, the present invention relates to carriers produced from rice hulls, calcium carbonate, and a binder. The light weight carriers are used primarily as absorbent materials, especially for carrying fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and the like. The carrier of the present invention comprises rice hull, calcium carbonate, and a binding agent.