Abstract: An arrangement in a fiber optic network device for analyzing a set of optical signals traversing the fiber optic network device is provided. The arrangement includes a set of ports for receiving and outputting the set of optical signals. The arrangement also includes a set of photodiodes, which is configured at least for receiving and forwarding the set of optical signals. The arrangement further includes a splitter, which is configured at least for receiving the set of optical signals from a first photodiode, splitting the set of optical signals into at least a first part and a second part, and forwarding the first part to a second photodiode and the second part to a third photodiode. The set of optical signals is configured to traverse the fiber optic network device irrespective whether power is provided to circuitry of the fiber optic network device.

Abstract: A wireless communications device may include a wireless transmitter, a modulator connected to the wireless transmitter, and a white Gaussian noise generator connected to the modulator. The white Gaussian noise generator may include at least one pseudorandom number generator, and a fast Walsh transform module for generating white Gaussian noise based upon the pseudorandom numbers.

Abstract: A mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) may include mobile nodes establishing wireless communications links therebetween. The mobile nodes may communicate based upon an avalanche or relay communications protocol. Each mobile node may comprise a wireless transceiver, and a decorrelation filter cooperating therewith for reducing interference from other mobile nodes. For example, the decorrelation filter also reduces one or more of multi-path interference from other mobile nodes or narrow band interference from other sources.

Abstract: A DC offset estimator and removal circuit removes the DC offsets for each of the I and Q signal components in a received signal. A gain imbalance estimator and compensator circuit estimates and compensates for gain imbalances within the I and Q signal components. A phase imbalance estimator and compensator circuit estimates and compensates for phase imbalances within the I and Q signal components to produce a communications signal that is compensated for received DC offsets and gain and phase imbalances within the I and Q signal components.

Abstract: Crop information related to a particular crop is collected and stored in data storage during the performance of an agricultural operation. A harvested particular crop is segregated from all other genetically distinct crops by storing the particular harvested crops in one or more segregated storage volumes for storing the particular crop. Each segregated storage volume has a corresponding storage identifier. An electronically accessible data profile, associated with the particular crop, is provided or made available to a user. The data profile includes the collected crop information.

Abstract: Initial data is acquired on an agricultural product associated with a harvesting time. The acquired initial data is transmitted (e.g., handed off) via an electromagnetic signal or wireless communication to an intermediate data processing system associated with a handler of the agricultural product. Additional data is appended to the acquired initial data received at the intermediate data processing system to form composite data. The composite data is transmitted via an electromagnetic signal or wireless communication to at least one of a receiver and a data processing system for processing or storing the composite data. The composite data is transferred to or made available to a data management system, which may be accessible to one or more users who seek access to at least one of the initial data, the additional data, and the composite data on the agricultural product or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A sensing assembly comprises a forward point for mounting on a crop divider associated with a header. At least one movable arm is capable of interacting with one or more plants standing in a field. A sensor detects a position of the movable arm. A mounting assembly operably supports the movable arm and the forward point, where a rear portion of the forward point is spaced apart from a forward edge of the crop divider and the at least one movable arm is located above a bottom portion of the forward point when the mounting assembly is secured to the crop divider.

Abstract: One or more airfoils, mounted above the upper surface of an automobile or other vehicle, optionally with variable angle of attack and/or camber, under the continuous automatic control of the vehicle's computer (electronic control module), for the purpose of providing well-distributed vertical thrust with minimum drag, or strong downward thrust with drag, depending on driving circumstances, thereby increasing the safety of the vehicle as well as improving its efficiency and performance.

Abstract: In a communication network or networked system, cables that interconnect systems or parts of a system are provided with RFID tags embedded at periodic intervals along their lengths. A network of GPS-enabled RFID readers with triangulation capabilities enables the determination of the physical routing of cables within an area of interest. It also enables communication of the physical routing information to an operations support system for cable management.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, isolated, tumor-associated antigens, and methods for identifying such antigens in a biological sample, and of screening for the presence of such an antigen in a biological specimen, wherein the tumor antigen identified reacts with serum from a subject treated with a vaccine comprising a cytokine and proliferation-incompetent tumor cells which express the tumor-associated antigen. Also provided are kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: In a communication network or system, cables that interconnect systems or subsystems are provided with RFID tags embedded or affixed at least at one endpoint of each cable. An installed or portable RFID reader in the proximity of an RFID tag of a given cable enables a unique cable endpoint identifier contained in the RFID tag to be read. The identifier is combined with a unique port identifier of the port to which the cable endpoint is attached at the message is sent to a far-end system or subsystem connected to the other end of the cable. That system reads the message and the information contained therein along with a unique port identifier of its own port connected to the given cable, enables positive confirmation of the communicative connection between the two ports and also the cable providing the connection. It also enables communication of the physical routing information to an operations support system for cable management.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a planter comprises a boundary definer for establishing a boundary associated with a field. A location-determining receiver determines a position of a planter. A detector is capable of generating an activation signal if the location-determining receiver crosses the established boundary. An actuator is arranged for interrupting the dispensing of seed for a single planter row for a specified time duration or over a specified range of positions in response to the activation signal.

Abstract: A sensing assembly comprises a forward point for mounting on a crop divider associated with a header. At least one movable arm is capable of interacting with one or more plants standing in a field. A sensor detects a position of the movable arm. A mounting assembly operably supports the movable arm and the forward point, where a rear portion of the forward point is spaced apart from a forward edge of the crop divider and the at least one movable arm is located above a bottom portion of the forward point when the mounting assembly is secured to the crop divider.

Abstract: The invention is directed to encoding information in radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags disposed on cabling interconnects for the purpose of easier identification of the cables, especially when ascertaining the physical routing and connectivity of the cables. The encoding can be performed before, during, or after installation of the cable. The encoded information can then be read at any time using an RFID reader, for example to identify the cable at various positions along it, thereby enabling easy determination of the routing of the cable.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for determining the presence or absence of a digital communication signal are disclosed. One embodiment of the inventive method comprises the steps of collecting a plurality of signal samples at a selected frequency for a known period of time, determining a metric dependent upon at least one measured characteristic associated with the collected signal samples, and indicating signal status as present when said determined metric is greater than a known value. In another embodiment, the aforementioned method may indicate the signal status as absent when the determined metric is less than the known value. As should be appreciated, embodiments of the inventive method may be used to determine the known value by determining the metric performance for a plurality of samples for a plurality of signal conditions.

Abstract: The communication method includes the use of CRC codes for additional error correction in addition to the error detection capability. The method is for error detection and correction in a received message that includes N message bits and M Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits appended thereto. It is determined whether at least one bit error has occurred in the N message bits and M CRC bits of the received message based upon the M CRC bits, and when at least one bit error is determined, then K bits with a lowest quality metric are selected from the N message bits and M CRC bits. The bit error is corrected based upon possible bit error patterns and the selected K bits. Multiple bit errors may also be corrected.

Abstract: In a communication network or networked system, cables that interconnect systems or parts of a system are provided with RFID tags embedded at periodic intervals along their lengths. A network of GPS-enabled RFID readers with triangulation capabilities enables the determination of the physical routing of cables within an area of interest. It also enables communication of the physical routing information to an operations support system for cable management.

Abstract: An arrangement in a fiber optic network device for analyzing a set of optical signals traversing the fiber optic network device is provided. The arrangement includes a set of ports for receiving and outputting the set of optical signals. The arrangement also includes a set of photodiodes, which is configured at least for receiving and forwarding the set of optical signals. The arrangement further includes a splitter, which is configured at least for receiving the set of optical signals from a first photodiode, splitting the set of optical signals into at least a first part and a second part, and forwarding the first part to a second photodiode and the second pant to a third photodiode. The set of optical signals is configured to traverse the fiber optic network device irrespective whether power is provided to circuitry of the fiber optic network device.

Abstract: A method of shaping furrows in soil includes the steps of: determining existing elevation profiles for a plurality of existing furrows in a geographic unit; establishing a target elevation profile for each of the existing furrows; and moving soil laterally either toward or away from one or both side walls along a length of each furrow to achieve the target elevation profiles within the geographic unit.

Abstract: A method, a controller and a vehicle for performing agricultural operations on a field with parallel arranged rows having ends. The operations are performed at positions related to the positions of the rows under control of the controller, based upon stored information about the orientation of the rows, stored information about a distance between adjacent rows, a distance signal related to a distance traveled by the vehicle and a direction signal related to the heading of the vehicle. The invention is particularly suited for providing dams to prevent water from a head ditch to enter into pre-selected, dry furrows on a field with an irrigation arrangement with raised rows and lower furrows between the rows, or dams matching up with adjacent raised rows so that water runs down each furrow.