al Coiled reformer catalyst tube for compact reformer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing a chemical reaction is provided. This method includes providing at least two helical tubes, wherein the helical tubes comprise: a first axis and a second axis; wherein the first axis and the second axis are normal to each other; a cross-sectional shape of a predetermined contour; and an inlet end and an outlet end. The method includes reforming a first gas stream and a second gas stream into a third gas stream in the presence of a catalyst. The method includes surrounding a heat source with the helical tubes are, and operating the tube with an average catalyst temperature of above 500 F. An apparatus for producing a chemical reaction is also provided. This apparatus comprises at least two helical tubes, wherein the helical tubes comprise: a first axis and a second axis; wherein the first axis and the second axis are normal to each other; a cross-sectional shape of a predetermined contour; an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the helical tubes contain a catalyst capable of reforming a first gas stream and a second gas stream into a third gas stream. The helical tubes are designed to surround a heat source, and the tube operates with an average catalyst temperature of above 500 F. Full Article
al ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical connector has two portions, a first portion connectable to a device and a second portion having a contact point which is movable in relation to the first portion. The second portion having the contact point comprises a magnet configured to attract the corresponding connector. The contact point does not require a counteracting force, whereby the side magnets may be smaller or the connector may lack the side magnets entirely. Full Article
al FLEXIBLE FLAT CABLE STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF IMPROVING CROSSTALK INTERFERENCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A flexible flat cable structure capable of improving crosstalk interference includes plural telecommunication signal conductors separated from one another and provided for transmitting differential signals, two support members installed on two lateral sides of the telecommunication signal conductor respectively, at least one filled material disposed between the telecommunication signal conductors. The ratio of the equivalent dielectric constant of the filled material to the equivalent dielectric constant of the support members falls within a range of 0.39˜0.27, and the ratio of the thickness of the filled material to the thickness of the support members falls within a range of 1.49˜1.37. Therefore, the flexible flat cable structure achieves the effects of reducing the time delay of the signal transmission of the flexible flat cable (FFC), suppressing the ringing noise of resonance, and improving the eye height of amplitude measurement, so as to suppress crosstalk interference and improve signal transmission quality effectively. Full Article
al HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SHIELD PLATE LOUVERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical assembly has a lead frame with a plurality of elongated conductor sets and an insulative housing. Each conductor set has two differential signal pair conductors between a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor. A slot extends through the insulative housing and at least partially exposes the first ground conductor of a first conductor set and the second ground conductor of a second conductor set. A first ground shield has a first tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a first side of the lead frame. A second ground shield has second tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a second side of the lead frame. A conductive medium is provided in the slot to electrically connect the first tab, the second tab, the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor. Full Article
al PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HAVING HIGH-SPEED OR HIGH-FREQUENCY SIGNAL CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A printed circuit board includes a substrate including a surface layer and a first ground layer; a high-frequency signal generation part provided in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion formed in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal line formed in the surface layer of the substrate, and extend from the high-frequency signal generation part to the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion; and at least one high-frequency signal connector disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, wherein an end of the first ground layer is exposed to a side surface of the substrate, and when the high-frequency signal connector is disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, a ground of the high-frequency signal connector is in contact with the end of the first ground layer. Full Article
al CRIMP TERMINAL AND CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A crimp terminal has a crimp barrel which is crimped onto a core wire of a cable. The crimp barrel has an inner surface in which a plurality of cavities which are independent from one another is formed. Each of the cavities has a predetermined shape in a plane orthogonal to a depth direction thereof before the crimp barrel is crimped onto a core wire. The predetermined shape has at least two straight portions and a concave curved portion connecting the straight portions. The concave curved portion is indented inward of the predetermined shape. A plurality of the concave curved portions which are close to each other and included respectively in the predetermined shapes distinct from each other is arranged on an identical imaginary circle or rounded rectangular. Full Article
al TERMINAL ATTACHING/DETACHING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A terminal attaching/detaching device includes a housing, an engaging member, and a movable member. The engaging member is configured to move in a first direction toward a terminal inserted in the housing to engage with the terminal, and is configured to move from the terminal inserted in the housing in a second direction to disengage from the terminal. The movable member is configured to move in concert with the engaging member in the moving process thereof in the first direction, and is configured to move the engaging member from the terminal inserted in the housing in the second direction, so that the engaging member is disengaged from the terminal. Full Article
al ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ELEMENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a connection element for connection of an electrical connector (17) with a cable (15) connected on the connection element (10), wherein the connection element (10) has a mechanism (21) which is configured to secure the connection element (10) in a predetermined position on the electrical connector (17), and wherein the connection element (10) has on a contact region between the connection element (10) the electrical connector (17) that is generated after the connection of the electrical connector (17) with the cable (15) at least one layer made of a sealing material, which is configured to seal a region of the connecting element (10) on the electrical connector (17) in a liquid tight manner. Full Article
al ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH TERMINAL HOLDER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical connector includes a housing having pockets formed in a receiving end of the housing. A terminal module is inserted into the pockets wherein the terminal modules are constructed from a stitch plate including a plurality of terminals retained therein, A cover having a plurality of spaced apart walls form thereon is arranged on the stitch plate and is moved into engagement with the stitch plate with the walls disposed in the intervening space between adjacent terminals. The connector assembly is pressed onto a circuit board in which a force is applied to the connector housing and is directly transferred to the terminal tails of the terminal modules causing electrical contact between conductive holes of the circuit board and the terminals. Full Article
al ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical receptacle connector includes a metallic shell, an insulated housing, first receptacle terminals, second receptacle terminals, first glue recess, and a first texture region. The metallic shell circularly encloses the insulated housing. The first and second receptacle terminals are held in the insulated housing. The first texture region is annularly formed on an inner wall of the metallic shell and corresponds to a periphery of the outer wall of the insulated housing. Therefore, the sealing member can attach onto the first texture region efficiently. Therefore, the sealing member does not overflow to the front portion of the receptacle cavity, and the inner gap can be sealed by the sealing member properly. Hence, the first texture region allows the sealing member to attach onto the inner wall of the shell body, and the sealing member can cover the inner gap completely to provide a reliable waterproof performance. Full Article
al RADIALLY AND AXIALLY-COMPRESSED CERAMIC SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system and method for providing a seal for an electrical penetrator in a subsea environment. More specifically, the present invention provides for a system for creating a seal about an electrical penetrator without using o-rings or independent seals. The present invention provides for a set of supporting apparatuses to be placed in compression about a central ceramic penetrator element. The geometry of the central ceramic penetrator element and the interior of the supporting apparatuses forms a hermetic seal when under a constant radial and axial, or axial compressive force. Full Article
al ELECTRICAL CORD CONNECTION COVERING TECHNIQUES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical cord covering system includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The housing portions each include compression portions around their respective rims. The compression portions each have two recessed areas. When the housing portions are in a closed position a hollow region is formed to cover mated electrical cord plugs. A rim seal is formed with the compression portions. Two apertures are formed in the rim seal from the recessed apertures. The cable apertures form seals against electrical cords running to the electrical cord plugs. Full Article
al Universal linear edge connector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus comprises a cable connector including: a first connector body portion including a first plurality of electrical contacts arranged to contact electrical contacts of a first surface of an edge connector substrate; a second connector body portion separate from the first connector body portion and including a second plurality of electrical contacts arranged to oppose the first plurality of electrical contacts of the first connector body portion and to contact electrical contacts of a second surface of the edge connector substrate, wherein the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are electrically coupled to one or more cables; and a joining mechanism configured to join the first connector body portion and the second connector body portion together and to apply a bias force to the edge connector substrate when the edge connector substrate is arranged between the first connector body portion and the second connector body portion. Full Article
al SHIELDED ELECTRICAL CONNENCTOR AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a shielded connector for a motor vehicle. The connector comprises at least one casing shielding element. The shielding element includes a cable outlet portion provided with a plurality of resilient tabs that are integral with the shielding element. The tabs include a contact zone in electrical contact with a ferrule crimped to a shielding braid of a cable. The contact zone is maintained pressed against the shielding braid by means of a removable clamping ring. Full Article
al CONNECTORS WITH SWITCHABLE TERMINAL LOADS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Switchable grounded terminal loads are built into, or otherwise coupled to, connectors on motherboards and control devices. The terminal loads are coupled to the bus termination at the connector when the connector is “stuffed” (connected to a mating connector). The switchable grounded terminal loads replace dummy connectors in preventing empty “unstuffed” connectors from increasing error risks on active channels. Full Article
al TERMINAL BLOCK FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A terminal block for an electronic device, which block can be attached to an electronics housing of the electronic device, includes at least one base strip comprising a plurality of connector sockets; and a plurality of connector modules that can be attached to the connector sockets of the at least one base strip in at least one insertion direction, are held on the connector sockets in an inserted position, and can be released from the connector sockets to be removed from the at least one base strip; and a locking device. The locking device includes: an actuating part that can be moved relative to the at least one base strip in an actuation direction; and a plurality of locking elements that are engaged in a locking manner in mating elements of the connector modules in a locked position. Full Article
al Polycrystalline diamond compact By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT In an embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond compact includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table having an upper surface, an interfacial surface, and at least one side surface extending therebetween. The interfacial surface of the polycrystalline diamond table is bonded to the substrate. The polycrystalline diamond table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The polycrystalline diamond table includes a first region extending inwardly from at least a portion of the upper surface and at least a portion of the at least one side surface. The first region spaced from the interfacial surface. The polycrystalline diamond table includes at least a second region extending inwardly from the interfacial surface to the upper surface. The first region includes at least a first infiltrant disposed interstitially between the bonded diamond grains thereof. The second region includes at least a second infiltrant disposed interstitially between the bonded diamond grains thereof. Full Article
al PVD hybrid method for depositing mixed crystal layers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention concerns a method for depositing mixed crystal layers with at least two different metals on a substrate by means of PVD methods. To provide a method of depositing mixed crystal layers with at least two different metals on a substrate by means of PVD methods, which gives mixed crystal layers which are as free as possible of macroparticles (droplets) and which have a proportion as high as possible of a desired crystalline phase and which are highly crystalline, it is proposed according to the invention that deposition of the mixed crystal layer is effected with simultaneous application of i) the cathode sputtering method of dual magnetron sputtering or high power impulse magnetron sputtering and ii) arc vapour deposition. Full Article
al Polycrystalline diamond compact with increased impact resistance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) with diamond grains includes a first zone of the diamond grains and a second zone of the diamond grains. The first zone forms a working surface and a first catalyzing material is disposed within voids of the diamond grains in the first zone. A second catalyzing material is bonded to the diamond grains disposed in the second zone. The first catalyzing material in the first zone is connected to the diamond grains disposed in the first zone less intimately than the second catalyzing material is bonded to the diamond grains in the second zone. Full Article
al Methods of fabricating polycrystalline diamond products using a selected amount of graphite particles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) fabricated by sintering a mixture including diamond particles and a selected amount of graphite particles, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) having a PCD table comprising such PCD, and methods of fabricating such PCD and PDCs. In an embodiment, a method includes providing a mixture including graphite particles present in an amount of about 0.1 weight percent (“wt %”) to about 20 wt % and diamond particles. The method further includes subjecting the mixture to a high-pressure/high-temperature process sufficient to form PCD. Full Article
al Polycrystalline ultra-hard material with microstructure substantially free of catalyst material eruptions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Polycrystalline ultra-hard materials and compacts comprise an ultra-hard material body having a polycrystalline matrix of bonded together ultra-hard particles, e.g., diamond crystals, and a catalyst material disposed in interstitial regions within the polycrystalline matrix. The material microstructure is substantially free of localized concentrations, regions or volumes of the catalyst material or other substrate constituent. The body can include a region extending a depth from a body working surface and that is substantially free of the catalyst material. The compact is produced using a multi-stage HPHT process, e.g., comprising two HPHT process conditions, wherein during a first stage HPHT process the catalyst material is melted and only partially infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material, and during a second stage further catalyst material infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material to produce a fully sintered compact. Full Article
al Plastic soft composition for polishing and for surface protective material application By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A plastic soft composition is formed of soft base material constantly provided with plasticity, porous fine particles for polishing contained in the base material, and the like, and a polishing process and a coating process are performed to a painted surface and the like using the plastic soft composition. The fine particles for polishing are impregnated with a coating agent (a surface protective agent) added with an activator which is emulsified by contact with water, and the coating agent is held in concave portions formed in the fine particles. Both polishing work and coating work are achieved by sliding the plastic soft composition on a painted surface by a palm pressure of a user. Full Article
al Superabrasive cutting element and manufacturing method with high degree of control of distribution and crystallographic orientation of the micro cutting edges By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive element comprises a body of crystalline abrasive material. The body has an array of cutting elements formed of crystalline abrasive material which projects from a surface of the body. The shape, size and form of the projections is controlled in the production process. The body may be a natural or synthetic crystal. The body may be a film formed by deposition. The body may be diamond or cubic boron nitride. The body may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. The projections may be aligned along a crystallographic plane or planes. Full Article
al Methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body with a sintering aid/infiltrant at least saturated with non-diamond carbon and resultant products such as compacts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compacts and applications for such polycrystalline diamond compacts. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body includes mechanically milling non-diamond carbon and a sintering aid material for a time and aggressiveness sufficient to form a plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles and sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of the plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles to form the polycrystalline diamond body. Full Article
al Cleaning material and abrasive material made from bamboo fiber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a cleaning cloth, an abrasive cloth, a cleaning buff and an abrasive buff which are each formed by knitting/weaving bamboo fibers having excellent cleaning, abrasive capacity and excellent ignition resistance. Full Article
al Abrasive grains based on zirconia alumina By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are abrasive grains based on zirconia alumina melted in an electric arc furnace, comprising a content of 52 to 62 wt % Al203 and 35 to 45 wt % ZrO2, wherein the high-temperature phases of the zirconia are stabilized by a combination of reduced Ti compounds and yttrium oxide. Full Article
al Low defect chemical mechanical polishing composition By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A low defect chemical mechanical polishing composition for polishing silicon oxide containing substrates is provided comprising, as initial components: water, a colloidal silica abrasive; and, an additive according to formula I. Full Article
al CMP pad with local area transparency By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing layer; and(c) an adhesive layer interposed between said polishing layer and said release sheet; said adhesive layer capable of adhering the polishing layer to a platen of a CMP apparatus after said release sheet has been removed. Full Article
al Polycrystalline diamond compact including a polycrystalline diamond table with a thermally-stable region having at least one low-carbon-solubility material and applications therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) comprising a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table including a thermally-stable region having at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed interstitially between bonded diamond grains thereof, and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate, and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween and defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD table further includes at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The at least one low-carbon-solubility material exhibits a melting temperature of about 1300° C. or less and a bulk modulus at 20° C. of less than about 150 GPa. Full Article
al Polycrystalline diamond compact By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table including an interfacial surface bonded to the substrate and an opposing working surface. The preformed polycrystalline diamond table includes a proximal region extending from the interfacial surface to an intermediate location within the preformed polycrystalline diamond table that includes a metallic infiltrant infiltrated from the substrate, and a distal region extending from the working surface to the intermediate location that is substantially free of the metallic infiltrant. A boundary exists between the proximal and distal regions that has a nonplanar irregular profile characteristic of the metallic infiltrant having been infiltrated into the preformed polycrystalline diamond table. Full Article
al Textured alumina layer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutting tool insert for machining by chip removal comprising a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics or cubic boron nitride based material onto which a hard and wear resistant coating is deposited by CVD, and the methods of making and using the same. The coating includes at least one α-Al2O3 layer with a thickness between 0.5 μm and 40 μm having a {01-15} and/or {10-15} texture exhibiting excellent wear and metal cutting performance. Full Article
al CVD coated polycrystalline c-BN cutting tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT CVD coated cutting tools are provided. A coated cutting tool described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a PcBN substrate and a polished coating adhered to the substrate including one or more layers of Al2O3 deposited by chemical vapor deposition, wherein the coating has a surface roughness (Ra) less than about 600 nm in an area of the cutting tool for contacting a workpiece. Full Article
al Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods of forming a polycrystalline compact for use in an earth-boring tool include sintering a plurality of hard particles with catalyst material to form a polycrystalline material that includes a plurality of inter-bonded particles of hard material integrally formed with the catalyst material and introducing at least a portion of the polycrystalline material to a reactive material to remove at least a portion of the catalyst material contained within the polycrystalline material. The reactive material may include at least one of a molten glass, an ionic compound, a leaching liquor, and a chemical plasma. The reactive material may be introduced to the polycrystalline material at a temperature of greater than or equal to a melting point thereof. Full Article
al Method of manufacturing grooved chemical mechanical polishing layers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of manufacturing grooved polishing layers for use in chemical mechanical polishing pads is provided, wherein the formation of defects in the polishing layers are minimized. Full Article
al Methods for improving thermal stability of silicon-bonded polycrystalline diamond By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods for preparing a silicon bonded PCD material involving a one step, double sweep process and drilling cutters made by such processes are disclosed. The PCD material includes thermally stable phases in the interstitial spaces between the sintered diamond grains. The method sweeps a diamond powder with a binder to form sintered PCD, reacts said molten binder with a temporary barrier separating said binder and said diamond from a silicon (Si) source, and sweeps said sintered PCD with said Si source to form SiC bonded PCD. Full Article
al ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND SIGNAL GENERATING CIRCUIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electronic device including a signal generating circuit and a movable sensing circuit is provided. The signal generating circuit generates a sensory signal through a signal source. The movable sensing circuit generates a feedback signal in response to a detection signal from the signal generating circuit, and transmits the feedback signal to the signal generating circuit. The signal generating circuit obtains a first distance value between the signal source and the movable sensing circuit based on the feedback signal, and adjusts the intensity of the sensory signal according to the first distance value. Full Article
al Method and Device for Chronologically Synchronizing a Kinematic Location Network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and devices are presented for synchronizing positioning signals in a kinematic location network. In particular, methods and devices are presented for synchronizing a unique positioning signal generated by a positioning-unit device to a reference positioning signal generated by a reference transmitter, where the positioning-unit device and the reference transmitter are moving relative to each other. In certain embodiments the reference transmitter or the positioning-unit device, or both, self-monitor trajectory data comprising one or more of location, velocity or acceleration, e.g. using inertial navigation systems, and broadcast that data in their positioning signals. The trajectory data enables estimation of Doppler shifts and propagation delays associated with the positioning signals, allowing measurement and correction of clock drift for synchronization of the positioning signals. Full Article
al PROTECTIVE DOME FOR A DUAL MODE ELECTROMAGNETIC DETECTION SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A dual mode electromagnetic detection system and a protective dome for the electromagnetic detection system are described. The protective dome includes a substrate having a portion transparent to both infrared radiation and radio frequency radiation. The portion of the substrate includes a macromolecular material including a polymer selected from a family of polyolefins and an antistatic additive. Full Article
al ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ANTENNA ARRAYS WITH RECONFIGURABLE PERFORMANCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus may include a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array. The apparatus may further include a beamformer that determines one or more of phase and amplitude shifts to cause the plurality of antenna elements to produce a beam in the direction of a target. The apparatus may further include a null limiter comprising dither circuits. The dither circuits may dither the one or more of phase and amplitude shifts by adding noise to cause a side lobe of the beam to increase above a threshold value. The dither circuits may be enabled by a control signal, and the dithered one or more of phase and amplitude shifts may be provided to the antenna elements to produce the beam in the direction of the target with the side lobes above the threshold value. Full Article
al MIXED LEFT/RIGHT CHIRAL LIQUID CRYSTAL FOR IMPROVED SWITCHING SPEED AND TUNABILITY FOR RF DEVICES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for improved switching speed and/or tunability for radio-frequency (RF) devices are described. In one embodiment, a liquid crystal (LC) component comprises an LC structure in a mixture with right-handed (R) and left-handed (S) chiral dopants. Full Article
al DUAL-POLARIZED, DUAL-BAND, COMPACT BEAM FORMING NETWORK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A spacecraft communications payload includes a beam forming network (BFN), wherein the BFN includes a first feed waveguide and a first set of branch waveguides, each branch waveguide in the first set operating in a frequency band having a characteristic waveguide wavelength λg1. A proximal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled with the first feed waveguide. A distal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled by way of an array of slots with a plurality of radiating elements. A separation distance between adjacent slots in the array is approximately equal to λg, and the array of slots is configured as a honeycomb-like triaxial lattice. In some implementations, a compact BFN may be configured to simultaneously operate at two different polarizations (“dual-polarized”) and/or frequency bands (“dual-band”). Full Article
al System for Transmission and/or Reception of Signals Having Electromagnetic Modes With Orbital Angular Momentum, and Device and Method Thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system is described, along with the related device and method, for transmission and/or reception of signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM), wherein the device is adapted to receive, at its input, electromagnetic signals from at least one transmitter, and is configured to apply a discrete Fourier transform to the electromagnetic signals in order to generate the signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum. Full Article
al CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING CHIRP SIGNAL LINEARITY AND PHASE NOISE OF A FMCW RADAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A testing device for FMCW radar includes an input for receiving a chirp signal generated by the radar. An IQ down-converter coupled to the input down-converts the chirp signal. A digitizer extracts digitized IQ signals from the down-converted chirp signal. A processor coupled to the digitizer determines at least one of frequency linearity and phase noise of the chirp signal. Full Article
al SNOW QUALITY MEASURING APPARATUS AND SNOW QUALITY MEASURING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A snow quality measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of reflectors, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and a measuring device. The plurality of reflectors are respectively arranged at a plurality of prescribed heights above the ground. The transmitter emits radio waves towards the plurality of reflectors, and the receiver receives the reflected waves of the radio waves from the plurality of reflectors. The measuring device measures snow quality of snow on the ground at the prescribed plurality of heights based on the respective reflected waves to from the plurality of reflectors as received by the receiver. Full Article
al FREQUENCY MODULATED CONTINUOUS WAVE RADIO ALTIMETER SPECTRAL MONITORING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal. Full Article
al ROBUST DUAL-RADAR-BEAM SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first method includes receiving a first reflected radar signal from a target in a first field of view and receiving a second reflected radar signal from a target in a second field of view offset from the first field of view by a predetermined distance; transforming the first and second reflected radar signals to obtain first and second sets of frequency coefficients, from which a frequency-dependent phase difference is obtained; and calculating a time-delay from the slope of the frequency dependence. A second method includes obtaining summed difference values between the first and second radar responses, where each of the summed difference values corresponds to different time shifts between the first and second radar response, and deriving from the summed difference values a time-delay associated with the target's motion from the first field of view to the second field of view. A third method combines the time-delays or associated speeds obtained from independent estimators. Full Article
al MOTORCYCLE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM AND REAR COLLISION ALERT USING MECHANICALLY ALIGNED RADAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A blind spot detection system for a motorcycle, which includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a vehicle in at least one blind spot. The accelerometer detects a gravity force vector, and the gyroscope detects the position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector such that a lean angle of the motorcycle is calculated. The detection device is then configured to maintain the same position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector and compensate for the position of the motorcycle if the lean angle is greater or less than 90°, such that the detection device is able to detect the presence of the vehicle in the at least one blind spot, independent of the lean angle of the motorcycle. Full Article
al GNSS Signal Processing with Delta Phase By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS signals are presented. These include GNSS processing with predicted precise clocks, GNSS processing with mixed-quality data, GNSS processing with time-sequence maintenance, GNSS processing with reduction of position jumps in low-latency solutions, GNSS processing with position blending to bridge reference station changes, and GNSS processing with delta-phase correction for incorrect starting position. Full Article
al Electrically Short Antennas with Enhanced Radiation Resistance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Various methods, apparatus, devices and systems are provided for electrically short antennas for efficient broadband transmission. In one example, among others, a system includes a segmentally time-variant antenna and a segment controller that can control conductivity of individual segments of the segmentally time-variant antenna. The conductivity of the individual segments is modulated to allow a pulse to propagate from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmentally time-variant antenna and impede a reflection of the pulse from propagating back to the proximal end of the segmentally time-variant antenna. In another embodiment, a method includes injecting a pulse at a first end of a segmentally time-variant antenna and modulating conductivity of individual segments to allow the pulse to propagate to a second end of the segmentally time-variant antenna and impede a reflection of the pulse from propagating back to the first end. Full Article
al DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH FEEDBACK AND METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the quality and strength of a wireless signal connecting a mobile station and a base station, in situations where the mobile station is able to utilize a directional antenna. The system for improving system quality comprise, for example, a directional antenna; an antenna power level detector which detects a signal strength; a signal inverter wherein the signal inverter generates a conditioned signal from the detected signal strength; an indicator wherein the indicator provides an indicator of a signal quality level from the detected signal strength; a reorientation decision logic wherein the reorientation decision logic communicates an instruction for movement of the directional antenna, wherein the detected signal strength is correlated to a projected orientation of the directional antenna at a time the signal strength is detected, and further wherein an antenna orientation control loop communicates a reorientation instruction for the directional antenna. Full Article