Abstract: An aircraft fuselage structure having a first fuselage barrel section and a second fuselage section barrel which are joined by tension fasteners extending through frame holes. A shank diameter of the fasteners is smaller than a respective frame hole diameter. A first positive locking element and a second positive locking element is provided forming a form-fit area with the first positive locking element in the circumferential direction. A method for producing such an aircraft fuselage section is also provided.

Abstract: An aircraft lifting surface with a main supporting structure comprising upper and lower faces defining its aerodynamic profile, front and rear faces oriented towards, respectively, the leading and trailing edges, a first set of transverse ribs extended from the front face to the rear face and a second set of transverse ribs crossing the front face and/or the rear face. The integration of leading and trailing edge ribs in the main supporting structure allows a weight and cost reduction of aircraft lifting surfaces. A manufacturing method of said main supporting structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an aircraft lifting surface with a monolithic main supporting structure (14) of a composite material comprising an upper skin (21) including at least a part of the upper aerodynamic profile of the leading edge (11) and/or of the trailing edge (15), a lower skin, a front spar (18), a rear spar (20), a plurality of leading edge ribs and/or a plurality of trailing edge ribs. This main supporting structure allows a weight and cost reduction of aircraft lifting surfaces. The invention also provides a manufacturing method of said monolithic main supporting structure (14).

Abstract: A composite laminate, method of forming same, and use for same are disclosed. One example of a composite laminate has multiple layers or plies (305A-305E) composed of generally parallel reinforcing fibers (315A-315E) embedded in a matrix (305M). The reinforcing fibers have orientations in the ranges of 3 to 8 degrees, ?3 to ?8 degrees, 10 to 40 degrees, ?10 to ?40 degrees, and approximately 90 degrees, the orientations being with respect to a predetermined axis (320), such as an axis of tension (T). A method of manufacturing a composite laminate includes laying a resin and fibers having these orientations and then curing the resulting laminate. One example of a use is for the skin on the fuselage or wing of an aircraft.

Abstract: The mode of landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle driven by an electric engine, containing main power supply batteries, control systems of the surveillance head, transmitting and receiving systems, a flight control system, and a container equipped with a surveillance head with a looking down lens, placed in a recess situated in the lower part of the fuselage by which the vehicle is lightened at the last stage of flight shortly before landing, which means the container placed in the recess is detached, then moved outside the vehicle's body and descended by means of a parachute into a desired location, and the lightened vehicle lands in some other place. The recess in the fuselage contains an electrically controlled lock which fixes detachably the container equipped with at least one parachute placed at the bottom section of the container, on the side of the surveillance head.

Abstract: A modular spacecraft comprising: a capsule module comprising a common bulkhead, and an additional spacecraft module comprising a common bulkhead, wherein said capsule modules common bulkhead is attached to said additional spacecraft module's common bulkhead.

Abstract: An aerodynamic fairing body for an aircraft, a corresponding aircraft and a corresponding method of manufacture for an aerodynamic fairing body are described. The fairing body is configured so as to accommodate a flap adjustment mechanism. Further, the fairing body is configured so as to be arranged at a predetermined distance from an engine of the aircraft, which produces a blast which varies depending on the flight phase. Furthermore, the fairing body is configured so as to be varied in shape in such a way that the fairing body is located outside the blast of the engine permanently. In other words, the fairing body can be varied in shape in such a way that it is located outside the engine blast in any flight phase of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft includes at least two aircraft fuselages and two elongate main wings, wherein the main wings each have an extension direction which are at an angle to one another that differs from zero. Each of the two main wings is connected to the at least two aircraft fuselages. The main wings can thus be equipped mechanically simply and so as to have a low weight, and at the same time the transmission of forces between the wings and the fuselages is performed via a plurality of connections, and this leads to a relatively low material stress.

Abstract: An inspection system for use with a rail vehicle includes a sensor configured to be deployed onboard the rail vehicle for inspection of wayside rail equipment to determine operability or alignment of the equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a section of cable tray, which can be connected to other sections without using additional accessories, allowing the connection of anchoring elements located at one end of the walls of each tray section. The aforementioned anchoring elements take the form of rods bent to form a V-shape that extends into straight extensions which are installed between longitudinal rods. In addition, turns are provided in the aforementioned rods between the straight zones and the V-shape, one turn towards the interior of the tray and another turn towards the exterior. Sections are coupled by sliding the sides of the first transverse rod of the tray section to be joined through the V-shape, such that they remain trapped between the inner turns and the sides of the last transverse rod of the receiving tray section.

Abstract: A corrugated tube clamp may includes a fixed portion capable of being connected to an attaching object, a movable portion hinged to the fixed portion, ribs respectively formed in the fixed portion and the movable portion, and at least one biasing member formed in at least one of the fixed portion and the movable portion. The fixed portion and the movable portion are shaped to clamp and hold each of corrugated tubes having different diameters therebetween. The ribs are respectively shaped to engage grooves formed in an outer circumferential surface of each of the corrugated tubes of different diameters. The at least one biasing member is shaped to be pressed back by an outer circumferential surface of at least the corrugated tube with the smallest diameter when it is clamped between the fixed portion and the movable portion.

Abstract: A bag support system is designed to universally support plastic shopping bags with integrated loop handles in an upright and open position for re-use as trash bags or receptacles to store and/or sort other materials or components.

Abstract: A speaker stand of a speaker is used to support a speaker and contains: a base, an upright tube, an adjustable tube, a securing set, a connecting rod, a fixing member, a rotating member, and a positioning plate. The base includes an upright tube disposed therein. The adjustable tube is mounted in and moves upwardly and downwardly in the base. The securing set, is fitted on a top end of the adjustable tube, rotates 360 degrees leftward and rightward relative to the upright tube, and moves upwardly and downwardly. A fixing member is located at one end of the connecting rod. The rotating member is axially connected with and rotates relative to the fixing member, and a positioning plate is secured on one side of the rotating member and rotates along the rotating member.

Abstract: The present invention describes a new and improved support for a keyboard that retains a keyboard at an angular and spatial location that suits the needs of a user. The keyboard support includes a weighted base, an extendable arm for adjusting the height of the keyboard stand, and a keyboard platform that supports a keyboard or similar shaped electronic device. The extendable arm comprises ball joints on both ends thereof that allow for angular and rotational adjustment of the extendable arm and the keyboard platform. Further provided on the keyboard platform is a high friction or adhesive layer for securing the keyboard, and a ledge that supports the base of the keyboard.

Abstract: A mount bracket for use in a cabin air supply system for an aircraft has three legs extending from a cylindrical central bore and at a first axial end of the bracket. There are two legs at an opposed second axial end. A central leg is on the first axial end, and two of the legs are positioned at each of two lateral sides at first and second ends. The legs extend to feet. Strengthening legs connect feet at each of the lateral sides, and to the central leg foot. A thickness of the strengthening legs connected to the central leg is defined as a first dimension. A distance along the first axial end between a laterally outermost portion of the feet at each of the lateral sides is defined as a second dimension. A ratio of the first dimension to the second dimension is between 0.032 and 0.037.

Abstract: One customizable utility rod assembly includes a wall attachment member; a base rod; and a cross rod, hook, towel ring, shelving rod, or toilet paper rod extending from the base rod. The wall attachment member has threading and at least one hole. The base rod has a distal side and a threaded proximal side threadably coupling the base rod to the wall attachment member. A method of customizing a utility rod having: (a) a threaded wall attachment member with a hole, and (b) a base rod presenting a distal side and a threaded proximal side forming a cavity, includes the following steps. Step (1): securing the wall attachment member to a surface with a fastener extending through the hole. Step (2): threadably coupling the base rod proximal side to the wall attachment member such that the wall attachment member is at least partially enclosed within the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a stabilizing device for stationary equipment, such as an automatic teller machine, to secure the equipment to an anchor. In one embodiment, the stabilizing device is configured to overcome a dislodging force that may be applied to the stationary equipment such that the equipment does not roll over and spill its payload. In one embodiment, the stabilizing device has a back plate and a front plate with dimensions that facilitate effectively stabilizing the stationary equipment. Additionally, the front plate includes a side wall and a base wall that correspond to the dimensions of the stationary equipment.

Abstract: A composite shipping base for supporting an appliance such as a washing machine is provided having a detachable sub-structure that can be added during the washing machine assembly to restrict the vertical and lateral movement of a centralized load of the washing machine during assembly, shipping and handling. A rigid bottom frame allows for the composite shipping base and appliance to move down virtually any form of conveyance and to be lifted or turned during the course of conveyance.

Abstract: An automatic balancing structure of a medical balancing stand includes an elastic member arranged in each clearance C. In a normal state, a lever and a turn plate turn together through the elastic members, to follow a rotative movement of a lateral arm. When an imbalance occurs on the lateral arm, the lateral arm produces torque with which a contact part of the lever presses and deforms one of the elastic members to activate a corresponding one of switches S1 and S2. The activated switch outputs an imbalance detected signal to an adjustment unit, which resolves the imbalance. The switches S1 and S2 are simple to downsize the automatic balancing structure and are effective to carry out balance adjustment.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a portable-device presentation system having a substantially-planar substrate; a first clamp coupled to the substrate; and a second clamp slidably coupled to the substrate, each of the first and second clamps having respective opposing contact surfaces that have substantially no curvature along axes substantially parallel to the substantially-planar substrate at a contact elevation above the substantially-planar substrate, wherein when a user slides the second clamp to a maximum display-size position and lays a display device on the substantially-planar substrate between the first clamp and the second clamp, the user may then secure the display device to the presentation system by sliding the second clamp to sandwich the display device between the two respective opposing contact surfaces and securing the second clamp using a hand-operated securing member. In various embodiments, a presentation system may secure portable display devices of many different sizes.

Abstract: A display stand includes a base, a leg and a bracket. The bracket is mounted to a backside of the base and includes a bridge for receiving the at least one portion of the leg. The bridge includes a first detent and a second detent. The portion of the leg that is received by the bridge is movable into a first position or a second position. A different portion of the leg mates with the first detent to support the display stand at a first viewing angle when the leg is rotated while in the first position. Yet another portion of the leg mates with the second detent to support the display stand at a second viewing angle that is different from the first viewing angle when the leg is rotated while in the second position.

Abstract: A portable holding device for mounting an item comprises a bottom component, a top component, an adhesive pad, and a mounting component. When the portable holding device is not used to mount an item, the adhesive pad may be covered by the top component. When the portable holding device is used to mount an item, the top component is unfolded to expose the adhesive pad, the adhesive pad is then attached to a desired location, and the mounting component is used to mount the item, which may be personal apparel, umbrellas, handbags, glasses, pens, and small tools.

Abstract: A Christmas tree stand comprises a container having a base and a sidewall extending therefrom, the sidewall having a plurality of outer longitudinal slots; a plurality of removable legs, each removable leg configured to be accommodated within a respective longitudinal slot; and a plurality of grippers threadably connected to the sidewall.

Abstract: Described is a multi-legged instrument stand that is specifically designed to increase stability and resistance to tipping. The stand can be used with any suitable instrument, such as guitars (via a guitar hanger), microphones, etc. The stand includes a base with a body pole. A leg connector is slidably attached with the body pole, with three legs and two stabilizers being pivotally connected with the leg connector. Thus, the legs and stabilizers can collapse for storage or rotate outward to allow the stand to be positioned upon a ground surface with increased stability.

Abstract: A dynamic damper mounted within a vehicle is capable of tuning a resonance frequency for each direction and includes a housing formed by a vertical plate connected to a bottom plate. A first rubber having elasticity is seated on the bottom plate and a mass is seated on the first rubber in a vertical direction and is spaced apart from the vertical plate. A second rubber having elasticity is mounted between the mass and the vertical plate.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to optical detector and optical systems. In some examples, the optical detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In other configurations, each dynode can be coupled to a respective electrometer. Methods using the optical detectors are also described.

Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor includes: thermoelectrically cooling a pixel using a thermoelectric element having a thermoelectric-junction integrated to the pixel; and performing a photoelectric conversion operation using the thermoelectric element. An image sensor includes a pixel and a readout circuit. The pixel includes a thermoelectric element having a thermoelectric-junction, and the readout circuit is configured to control the pixel such that the thermoelectric element performs a thermoelectric-cooling operation and a photoelectric conversion operation.

Abstract: Imaging sensors, imaging apparatuses, and methods of driving an image sensor are provided. An image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate with a photoelectric conversion element and a charge-conversion element. The sensor can further include a capacitance switch. A charge accumulation element is located adjacent the photoelectric conversion element. At least a portion of the charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the photoelectric conversion element. The charge accumulation element is selectively connected to the charge-voltage conversion element by the capacitance switch.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix, the pixels including a charge holding section configured to hold a signal charge transferred from a photoelectric conversion section, and to include a capacitor section having a first capacitance value and an additional capacitor section for increasing the first capacitance value to be a second capacitance value; and to part of a reset transistor configured to reset a charge held by the charge holding section, a test-voltage power source configured to apply a test voltage having a voltage different from a drive voltage of the reset transistor.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: plural photodiodes formed in different depths in a unit pixel area of a substrate; and plural vertical transistors formed in the depth direction from one face side of the substrate so that gate portions for reading signal charges obtained by photoelectric conversion in the plural photodiodes are formed in depths corresponding to the respective photodiodes.

Abstract: A data transmission circuit of an image sensor includes first to Kth bus segments, and first to Kth data regeneration circuits respectively connected to the first to Kth bus segments and the first to (K-1)th data regeneration circuits respectively connected to the second to Kth bus segments. Each of the first to Kth data regeneration circuits may be embodied as one of a buffer, a logic gate, and a synchronous circuit operating in response to a clock signal.

Abstract: Scanning distance measuring equipment includes a light emitter/receiver and a deflector for deflecting and reflecting measurement light emitted from the light emitter/receiver to outside through an optical window. The deflector is provided with a first deflection mechanism including a movable unit swingable about a first axis and a drive unit for driving to swing the movable unit; a second deflection mechanism for driving to rotate the first deflection mechanism about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and a contactless power supply unit including a second coil that is located to rotate about the second axis along with the rotating second deflection mechanism, and a first coil that is located to face the second coil on a common axis.

Abstract: An optical communication module includes a lens unit and an optical-electrical converter. The optical-electrical converter includes a circuit board and the lens unit is fixed on the circuit board. The lens unit has an extension portion, and the extension portion extends outwards from the lens unit and is parallel to the circuit board. Glue is located between the extension portion and the circuit board to secure the lens unit on the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement detection device for detecting a movement of an object in a space range. The movement detection device includes a light source, a light guiding element, at least two light sensing elements and a processing unit. The light sensing elements have an offset therebetween along a first direction such that the object, when moving in the space range, reflects the light from the light source sequentially to the light sensing elements through the light guiding element. The processing unit identifies the movement of the object along the first direction according to a sequence that the light sensing elements detect the light reflected by the object.

Abstract: An environmental sensor is disclosed. The environmental sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a light sensor, a surface through which ambient light can pass to reach a light sensor and a light source operable to illuminate the surface, whereby at least some of the light from the light source is reflected by the surface onto the light sensor. The environmental sensor is operable to determine the presence of a fouling layer on the surface by comparing measurements of ambient light and reflected light by the at least one light sensor.

Abstract: In a photoelectric absolute encoder including a scale having a plurality of tracks with different pitch patterns, and a detector having a light source and light receiving elements including a plurality of light receiving element arrays corresponding to the plurality of tracks, a light receiving element array is additionally arranged at a position in the detector corresponding to a boundary between the track having a pattern with a wide pitch and the track having a pattern with a narrow pitch adjacent to each other in the scale, and displacement of the detector relative to the scale in a lateral direction is detected from a signal amplitude of the added light receiving element array. In this manner, displacement of the detector relative to the scale in the lateral direction can be detected.

Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a cylindrical object rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having a circumferential annular reflection measuring graduation. A stationary scanning unit is disposed opposite the cylindrical object and has a light source, a transmission grating and a detector. The scanning unit is configured to optically scan the reflection measuring graduation by beams of light emitted from the light source passing through the transmission grating and then striking the reflection measuring graduation, from where the beams of light are reflected back toward the detector, which is configured to generate rotation-dependent position signals. An optically effective perpendicular distance between the detector and the reflection measuring graduation is selected to be one of greater or less than an optically effective perpendicular distance between the transmission grating and the reflection measuring graduation depending on a radius of the cylindrical object.

Abstract: An electrokinetic pump can be used to deliver calibrant (“lock mass”) ions to a mass spectrometer for calibration of a mass spectrometry system. Electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can help to eliminate the need for the more cumbersome mechanisms that are often used for ion delivery. In addition, electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can provide for a more user-friendly system in which a calibrant solution can be packaged into a disposable cartridge. Furthermore, when implemented in a microfluidic format, electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can be coupled with an electrokinetically controlled separation system, such as capillary electrophoresis (CE), to allow efficient solid-state switching between analytical and calibrant sprays.

Abstract: A system and method are described for capturing and analyzing gamma rays from neutron excitation of a region in 3-space being analyzed for explosives. A processor analyzes the results, determining whether underground explosives are present in a particular region of the ground. In one embodiment, one gamma ray energy band is used to infer an amount of silicon in the region, while another indicates the combined amount of silicon and nitrogen. The concentration of nitrogen in the region is inferred and used to trigger an “explosive found” or a “no explosive found” signal. In other embodiments, the system or method uses inferences about other elemental constituents of the ground being examined, sometimes taking as input analyses from prior scans, and providing output indicating the likelihood of the presence of explosives in the region.

Abstract: Provided is a technique of analyzing particles in real time while collecting and condensing the particles continuously. Gas and/or particles as a detection target substance that are attached to an authentication target 2 are removed by air flow from a blowing region 5. The removed sample is sucked and is condensed and sampled at a sampling region 10, and ions of the sample are generated at an ion source 21 and are then subjected to mass analysis at a mass analysis region 23. Determination of the obtained mass spectrum is made as to the presence or not of a mass spectrum derived from the detection target substance, and a monitor 27 displays a result thereof. Thereby, the detection target substance attached to the authentication target 2 can be detected continuously in real time, promptly and with a less error rate.

Abstract: A novel scanning method of a mass spectrometer apparatus is introduced so as to relate by simple time shifts, rather than time dilations, the component signal (“peak”) from each ion even to an arbitrary reference signal produced by a desired homogeneous population of ions. Such a method and system, as introduced herein, is enabled in a novel fashion by scanning exponentially the RF and DC voltages on a quadrupole mass filter versus time while maintaining the RF and DC in constant proportion to each other. In such a novel mode of operation, ion intensity as a function of time is the convolution of a fixed peak shape response with the underlying (unknown) distribution of discrete mass-to-charge ratios (mass spectrum). As a result, the mass distribution can be reconstructed by deconvolution, producing a mass spectrum with enhanced sensitivity and mass resolving power.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for the detection of trace gaseous molecular compounds dissolved or suspended in a carrier gas, particularly in ambient air, without preconcentration or the trapping of analyte particles. The IMS of the invention comprises an ionization volume of greater than 5 cm3 and preferably greater than 100 cm3. The larger size ionizers of this invention enable analysis of trace (<1 ppb) of sample compounds in the gas phase. To facilitate efficient ion motion through the large volume ionization and reaction regions of the IMS, an electric field gradient can be provided in the ionization region or in both the ionization and reaction regions. The systems can be implemented with radioactive ionization sources, corona discharge ion sources or ions can be formed by photoionization.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) system includes a multi-capillary GC column coupled to a mass analyzer through an ionization interface. The ionization interface includes an ionization device and an ion guide configured for receiving a high-capacity gas-sample flow from the GC column and transmitting a compressed ion beam to the mass analyzer. The ion beam may be converging.

Abstract: An ion source is disclosed comprising a nebuliser 1 and a target 10. The nebuliser 1 is arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream of analyte droplets which are caused to impact upon the target 10 and to ionise analyte to form a plurality of analyte ions.

Abstract: Provided is a matrix for MALDI mass spectrometry that has a high ability of ionizing low-molecular-weight compounds, and makes it possible to make measurement in a negative ion mode. The matrix is a matrix for mass spectrometry that contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds each represented by the following general formula (I), (II) or (III), and their salts thereof.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to ion detectors and systems. In some examples, the ion detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In other configurations, each dynode can be coupled to a respective electrometer. Methods using the ion detectors are also described.

Abstract: A sampling nozzle 21, an ion supply tube 31 leading to an analysis apparatus 50 and a barrier discharge tube 11 are connected to first, second and third ends, respectively, of a T-shaped tube 41 having three connecting ports, and the central portion of the T-shaped tube is an ionization chamber SP. The ionization chamber SP is a closed space, and ions generated therein are introduced to the analysis apparatus 50 through the ion supply tube 31. As a result, almost all of the ions are introduced into the interior of the analysis apparatus.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of measuring a relative critical dimension (RCD) during electron beam inspection of a target substrate. A reference image is obtained. A region of interest is defined in the reference image. A target image is obtained using an electron beam imaging apparatus. The target and reference images are aligned, and the region of interest is located in the target image. Measurement is then made of the RCD within the region of interest in the target image. Another embodiment relates to a method of measuring a RCD which involves scanning along a scan length that is perpendicular to the RCD. Point RCDs along the scan length are measured. A filter is applied to the point RCDs, and an average of the point RCDs is computed. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a tilt-imaging scanning electron microscope apparatus. The apparatus includes an electron gun, first and second deflectors, an objective electron lens, and a secondary electron detector. The first deflector deflects the electron beam away from the optical axis, and the second deflector deflects the electron beam back towards the optical axis. The objective lens focuses the electron beam onto a spot on a surface of a target substrate, wherein the electron beam lands on the surface at a tilt angle. Another embodiment relates to a method of imaging a surface of a target substrate using an electron beam with a trajectory tilted relative to a substrate surface. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A charged particle beam device capable of observing a sample in an air atmosphere or gas atmosphere has a thin film for separating the atmospheric pressure space from the decompressed space. A vacuum evacuation pump evacuates a first housing; and a detector detects a charged particle beam (obtained by irradiation of the sample) in the first housing. A thin film is provided to separate the inside of the first housing and the inside of a second housing at least along part of the interface between the first and second housings. An opening part is formed in the thin film so that its opening area on a charged particle irradiation unit's side is larger than its opening area on the sample side; and the thin film which covers the sample side of the opening part transmits or allows through the primary charged particle beam and the charged particle beam.