A method for producing a Ga-containing group III nitride semiconductor having reduced threading dislocation is disclosed. A buffer layer in a polycrystal, amorphous or polycrystal/amorphous mixed state, comprising AlGaN is formed on a substrate. The substrate having the buffer layer formed thereon is heat-treated at a temperature higher than a temperature at which a single crystal of a Ga-containing group III nitride semiconductor grows on the buffer layer and at a temperature that the Ga-containing group III nitride semiconductor does not grow, to reduce crystal nucleus density of the buffer layer as compared with the density before the heat treatment. After the heat treatment, the temperature of the substrate is decreased to a temperature that the Ga-containing group III nitride semiconductor grows, the temperature is maintained, and the Ga-containing group III nitride semiconductor is grown on the buffer layer.

A display apparatus includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate, a spacer and an image display layer. The spacer includes a main spacer, a first sub-spacer and a second sub-spacer. The main spacer has a height greater than that of the first and second sub-spacers. The second sub-spacer has an area wider than that of the main spacer and the first sub-spacer.

A stylish ready-to-assemble chaise lounge and sofa which may be easily and quickly assembled by a consumer, is provided. The invention is a kit from which either a stylish chaise lounge or a sofa may be easily assembled by a consumer using a single Allen wrench. The kits, both chaise and sofa, comprise a seat base, a long side seatback and a short side seatback, feet, fasteners and cushions. With regard to the chaise, the long and short side chaise seatbacks have rectangular lower portions with upper portions featuring a flowing curved “waterfall” seating surface which improves the comfort of a user leaning back against the seatback.

A method for enhancing sales of stadium seat memorabilia by utilizing a stabilizing base, with a large surface area in the shape of sports memorabilia, such as baseball bats and/or sports figures, with or without brackets, to mount and stabilize a stadium seat for use outside of the stadium, such as at home or in a commercial setting.

An ergonomic back support device utilizing one or multiple vertical components that include layers (28,36), pressure distributing layers (34,38,50), and a single notched layer (48). These layers provide primary back support located behind and conforming to the Erector spinae muscles (124). The vertical components form an open channel (24) that is parallel to the prime neurological pathway of the spinal column (100). The vertical conforming support components and open channel facilitate physiological functions that promote health. The device accomplishes support without using any transverse, hard or continuous components across or against the back. Other embodiments include the following additional vertical components: a lateral pressure-adjusting device (14), heating layers (40,46), circulation stimulating layers (42,44), and massage layers (52,54). Embodiments include portable and permanently installed versions that can be utilized in the following applications, including, but not limited to, furniture, vehicles, trains, aircraft, boats, ships, and backpacks.

A chair has a seat support (101), a seat portion (13), a back portion (15), and a supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a castored base (11), a height adjustment mechanism (17), and a main transom (21). The seat portion (13) is selectively moveable relative to the supporting frame, with the seat portion having a locked configuration and a released configuration. The back portion has a back frame (25) and a compliant cover (61). The back frame has hook features for receiving a portion of the compliant cover (61). The back portion (15) is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between an upright position and a reclined position. A recline mechanism has deformable members operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. A recline resistance mechanism is selectively engageable to resist movement of the back portion toward the reclined position.

The present invention provides an apparatus for enhancing Q factor of an inductor. The apparatus includes a negative resistance generator coupled to the inductor for providing a negative resistance, and a bias circuit coupled to the negative resistance generator for biasing the negative resistance generator.

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a photographing section that can photograph a subject from a plurality of viewpoints with parallax, and can photograph a 2D moving image of the subject obtained by photographing from at least one of the viewpoints and a 3D image of the subject obtained by photographing from the plurality of the viewpoints; a recording section that records the 2D moving image and the 3D image; a subject situation determination section that determines a timing suitable for photographing the 3D image while photographing the 2D moving image; and a photographing control section that controls the photographing section so as to photograph the 3D image when the subject situation determination section determines that the timing is suitable for photographing the 3D image.

Next generation pervasive wireless ecosystems and mobile information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabling millions of users to migrate to pervasive digital living and enterprise. Wireless communications may include the mobile information apparatus accessing wireless local area network or by direct wireless communication. The mobile information apparatus may include a wireless unit compatible with Bluetooth and/or IEEE802.11. Mobile information apparatus may conduct a local area wireless search within short distances for discovering wireless devices in its vicinity, receive an attribute related to the discovered wireless device, establish secure wireless communication with the discovered wireless device, and transfer or synchronize digital content or applications to/from the discovered wireless device. The discovered wireless device may be other mobile apparatus, wireless televisions, wireless audio devices, wireless speakers, wireless printers, among others, in a digital living room or office. Mobile apparatus may be smart phones, information pads, or laptops with touch sensitive screen interface.

A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and hold time fatigue crack growth behavior. A particular example of a component is a powder metallurgy turbine disk of a gas turbine engine. The gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy contains, by weight, 16.0 to 30.0% cobalt, 11.5 to 15.0% chromium, 4.0 to 6.0% tantalum, 2.0 to 4.0% aluminum, 1.5 to 6.0% titanium, up to 5.0% tungsten, 1.0 to 7.0% molybdenum, up to 3.5% niobium, up to 1.0% hafnium, 0.02 to 0.20% carbon, 0.01 to 0.05% boron, 0.02 to 0.10% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.5 to 2.0.

A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and hold time fatigue crack growth behavior. A particular example of a component is a powder metallurgy turbine disk of a gas turbine engine. The gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy contains, by weight, 18.0 to 30.0% cobalt, 11.4 to 16.0% chromium, up to 6.0% tantalum, 2.5 to 3.5% aluminum, 2.5 to 4.0% titanium, 5.5 to 7.5% molybdenum, up to 2.0% niobium, up to 2.0% hafnium, 0.04 to 0.20% carbon, 0.01 to 0.05% boron, 0.03 to 0.09% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.71 to 1.60.

A nickel-base superalloy is characterized by the following chemical composition (details in % by weight): 7.7-8.3 Cr, 5.0-5.25 Co, 2.0-2.1 Mo, 7.8-8.3 W, 5.8-6.1 Ta, 4.9-5.1 Al, 1.0-1.5 Ti, 1.0-2.0 Re, 0.11-0.15 Si, 0.1-0.7 Hf, 0-0.5 Nb, 0.02-0.17 C, 50-400 ppm B, remainder Ni and production-related impurities. The alloy is distinguished by a very high resistance to oxidation, resistance to corrosion and good creep properties at high temperatures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a Ni-based superalloy, especially for a conventional casting, having a good balance among high temperature strength, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, as compared to a conventional material. The Ni-based superalloy comprises Cr, Co, Al, Ti, Ta, W, Mo, Nb, C, B, and inevitable impurities, the balance being Ni, the Ni-based superalloy having a superalloy composition comprising, by mass, 13.1 to 16.0% Cr, 11.1 to 20.0% Co, 2.30 to 3.30% Al, 4.55 to 6.00% Ti, 2.50 to 3.50% Ta, 4.00 to 5.50% W, 0.10 to 1.20% Mo, 0.10 to 0.90% Nb, 0.05 to 0.20% C, and 0.005 to 0.02% B.

A combination support stand and carrying handle apparatus for use with an associated tablet device having a generally rectangular conformation with opposite front and back substantially planar surfaces. The apparatus includes a mounting member, a handle member, and a support stand for holding the associated tablet device on surfaces at selected angles for convenience of use of the tablet device. The carrying handle is grippable by the hand of an associated user. The support stand apparatus and carrying handle apparatus may be provided individually without the other.

A pick up mechanism includes a pick up rod, a pick up head, and a resisting assembly. The pick up head is assembled to an end of the pick up rod. The resisting assembly includes a guiding seat, a resisting member, a pair of guiding rods, and a pair of elastic members. The guiding seat is fixedly sleeved on the pick up rod, the resisting member slidably shields the pick up head. The pair of guiding rods is fixed on the guiding seat, and blocks the resisting member. The pair of elastic members is resisted between the guiding seat and the resisting member, wherein the pick up head is exposed or shielded by moving the resisting member relative to the pick up rod.

A tool for lifting and carrying wood of a two opposing pointed arm pivoted construction. A drive handle extends from one arm and an offset carrying handle extends from the other arm. Each arm has a curved free end portion terminating in a wood engagement point. The arms are pivoted together at their distal ends with an arm stop extending therebetween preventing the arms from closing completely. The arms respective end engagement points provide for opposing wood end engagement to grip and hold a single log or firewood piece securely therebetween for lifting and carrying until select release by the user.

Textured surface for increasing Leidenfrost temperature. The texture comprises of surface features over multiple length scales—from micro to nanoscale—wherein the features at each length scale have a size, aspect ratio, and spacing selected to increase the Leidenfrost temperature. The structure includes an array of microscale structures disposed on the surface, the structure having size, aspect ratio and spacing selected to increase Leidenfrost temperature. The microscale structures may also include nanoscale structures on their surface to create a hierarchical structure. The structures result in an increased Leidenfrost temperature.

A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core and a vessel head defining an internal pressurizer. A reactor coolant pump (RCP) mounted on the vessel head includes an impeller inside the pressure vessel, a pump motor outside the pressure vessel, and a vertical drive shaft connecting the motor and impeller. The drive shaft does not pass through the internal pressurizer. A central riser may be disposed concentrically inside the pressure vessel, and the RCP impels primary coolant downward into a downcomer annulus between the central ser and the pressure vessel. A steam generator may be disposed in the downcomer annulus and spaced apart from with the impeller by an outlet plenum, A manway may access the outlet plenum so tube plugging can be performed on the steam generator via access through the manway without removing the RCP.

A control rod/fuel support handling apparatus that is used in the case where a control rod and a fuel support are held, removed and lifted in a reactor and then are transported into the reactor in a periodical inspection of a BWR and in the case where the control rod and the fuel support are attached and mounted again into the reactor, the control rod/fuel support handling apparatus including: a fuel support gripper that holds the fuel support with a support gripping member; a control rod gripper that includes a vertically movable and rotatable elevating/rotating unit, holds the control rod with a control rod gripping member, disconnects and connects the control rod and a control rod drive mechanism, and allows removal and attachment of the control rod; and a control panel that controls automatically controls the control rod gripper in response to the instructions from an operation pendant.

A nuclear fuel assembly tie plate is provided. The nuclear fuel assembly tie plate is formed by intersecting strips delimiting between them tubular guide cells each for allowing a fuel rod to extend through the tie plate. The strips delimit between them tubular flow cells separate from the guide cells, each flow cell for allowing coolant flow through the tie plate. Guide cells and flow cells are arranged at nodes of a lattice defined by a repeating pattern comprising four corner nodes in a square lattice arrangement and a central node at the center of the four corner nodes, with one guide cell at each corner nodes, separated by a pair of parallel spaced strips intersecting a pair of parallel spaced strips, the two pairs of strips delimiting a four-walled central flow cell at the center node.

An improved grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly that has an egg-crate base grid as the primary support structure with each support cell of the base grid that supports a fuel rod having a lock-support sleeve that is rotatable within the support cell between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation the lock-support sleeve fits loosely within the support cell of the base grid and respectively, loosely receives the fuel rods that are loaded therein. The lock-support sleeves are then rotated to a second orientation that locks the fuel rods axially within the support cells.

The present invention generally relates to drinking games and apparatuses for the use therewith. Specifically, this invention relates to an improved drinking game component and cup alignment apparatus for use with various drinking games. The drinking game cup or attachment and cup alignment apparatus may be designed in such a manner as to allow for simplified, accurate and reliable positioning of one or more drinking cups on a playing surface.

Shooters must presently take their firearms out of their hands to then manually actuate a new target into shooting position. This Target Apparatus will allow the shooter to shine his laser light, infrared light, flashlight, or multi-spectrum light onto a Target Apparatus-mounted sensor that engages a drive means mounted upon the target frame that then forwards a new target into position without removing the firearm from its' shooting position. The unit also uses a unique target backing material that does not require targets to be made of rolls of coated or heavy material stock. The system can utilize rolls of cash register paper, cut sections of gift wrapping paper, hand towel rolls, or even paper towels as target materials without snagging and preventing the next target from being presented.

A grooved supporting member for assisting in the construction of a card structure is provided. Specifically, the grooved supporting member provides support for the beginning foundational planar stackable members. The grooved supporting member includes a planar base member, top surface, bottom surface, at least one edge, and at least one groove. Preferably, the groove is cut completely through the planar base member and provides lateral support for a planar stackable member. In the preferred embodiment, the grooved supporting member has four edges and four grooves, thus providing support for four planar stackable members to create the cell of a card structure. The user may employ one or more of the grooved supporting members of the present invention in a card structure. Further disclosed is a kit including a grooved supporting member of the present invention and a plurality of stackable planar members.

To reduce power supply noises occurring in a control circuit unit for controlling an output buffer. A semiconductor device includes unit buffers for driving a data output terminal, impedance control circuits for controlling the unit buffers, and a control circuit unit for controlling the impedance control circuits. The impedance control circuits and the control circuit unit operate by mutually-different power supplies, the control circuit unit supplies pull-up data and pull-down data in mutually reverse phase to the impedance control circuits, and the impedance control circuits convert the pull-up data and the pull-down data from reverse phase to in-phase and supply the same to the unit buffers. Thereby, a noise is difficult to occur in a power supply VDD used for the control circuit unit.

A storage cell having a pulse generator and a storage element is proposed. The storage element input is connected to receive a data input signal. The storage element output is connected to provide a data output signal. The storage element is operable in one of a data retention state and a data transfer state in response to a storage control signal received from the pulse generator. The pulse generator is connected to receive a clock signal with rising and falling clock signal edges and is adapted to provide control pulses in the storage control signal. Each control pulse has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The control pulses have a polarity suited to invoke the data transfer state on their leading edges. The novel feature is that the pulse generator is adapted to initiate a rising-edge control pulse when receiving a rising clock signal edge and to initiate a falling-edge control pulse when receiving a falling clock signal edge. In this way, a dual-edge-triggered flip-flop may be made using only combinatorial logic circuitry and one level- or single-edge-triggered storage element. The storage cell has low power consumption, facilitates scan testing and can be used by existing design tools and test equipment.

A method, and an apparatus, for monitoring the sand supply in a sand tank (2) of a sand-scattering device in vehicles, in particular in express trains. To prevent an insufficient sand supply, the sand-supply level is monitored by a inspection point.

The Revolution Daddy Rock Super Track is a salt sifting tank that dispenses rock salt directly to the front of the vehicle wheels followed by the rear wheels which would prevent the automobile from sliding side to side and also aiding the vehicle to go up and down hills in the winter time with super traction.

An appliance is provided having one or more racks or shelves, the position of which may be adjusted vertically. Multiple different positions along the vertical direction can be made available for selection by a user of the appliance. One or more mechanisms allow for the selective adjustment and securing of the vertical position at which a shelf may be located.

A release-preventing system for wall cupboards wherein a cupboard (40, 70, 105, 110, 150) is hooked to a support (47, 76, 97, 115, 155) fixed to the wall (48, 77, 98, 114, 154) by a hook (41, 73, 91, 125, 162) of a cupboard holding device (40, 90, 124, 163) characterized in that between the hook (41, 73, 91, 125, 162) and the support (47, 76, 97, 115, 155) there is a release preventing element (51, 79, 101, 121, 160, 167) that prevents unhooking of the cupboard.

A system for fixing a rail onto a foundation and a support plate intended for such a system. The system comprises a guide plate, a spring element which can be clamped against the foundation by means of a clamping element, sits on the guide plate and in the final mounted system with its free spring arm exerts a retaining force on a rail foot of the rail, and a support plate which is arranged to compensate for height differences between the guide plate and the foundation concerned. The system proposes dividing the support into two parts along a joint line which runs, starting from the one long side of the support plate aligned transverse to the rail to be fixed, at a distance from the one short side to the passage opening and from there intersecting the passage opening in the direction of the short side of the support plate.

A sleeper for supporting rails within a section of track for rail vehicles is provided, wherein the sleeper has elongated reinforcing elements extending along a longitudinal axis of the sleeper and is produced as a solid material sleeper having a cavity which extends between the reinforcing elements and from at least one outer face of the sleeper into the interior of the sleeper, and wherein the sleeper is designed for use with at least two different measurement value pick-up systems, wherein one of the measurement value pick-up systems is a temperature measurement value pick-up system having an infrared sensor which is accommodated by insertion into the cavity.

The invention may be described as a rail bridge joint, associated guard plate assembly, and a bridge assembly incorporating same.

An arrangement for supporting a rail extending in the longitudinal direction and having curvature, which is configured to vary, in the vertical or horizontal plane. The arrangement comprises at least one support beam extending in the longitudinal direction, the support beam having a support surface extending along its length, the support surface being curved along the length of the support beam. The arrangement further comprises at least one rail extending in the longitudinal direction and supported over the support surface of the at least one support beam.

A rail support block assembly includes a resilient member and a molded block having a top, a bottom and peripheral wall. The block is adapted for fastening one or more rails on the top. The prefabricated resilient member has an outer tray and inner tray arranged within the outer tray, and includes a resilient intermediate structure between the trays. The block is molded in a block mold into with the moldable material is introduced and allowed to harden. The block is fixed in the inner tray to extend under the bottom of the block and along a lower region of the peripheral wall. The resilient member may form a part of the block mold, so that a mold member combined with the resilient member delimit the mold for the block. The moldable material is introduced and adheres directly to the inner tray of the prefabricated resilient member.

A joint between connected ends of two rails of different height is provided with a connector/juncture bar member which is configured to fit with and engage corresponding surfaces formed on the rails when the rails are connected together. The joint so formed is one with increased strength, with ease and accuracy of alignment during assembly.

Provided are pouches with rigid handles and/or internal supports and methods of making such pouches. In one aspect, a pouch with internal support includes a flexible pouch including a fitment coupled to a flexible pouch body and at least one inner support piece coupled to the fitment and extending into the inside of the pouch through the interior of the fitment. The fitment includes a fitment inner engagement feature and the at least one inner support piece includes an inner support engagement feature and at least one inner support extending from the inner support engagement feature. The fitment inner engagement feature and inner support engagement feature are interlocked to keep the at least one inner support piece from falling into or out of the flexible pouch body.

A reclosable bag or pouch configured to store, and to easily pour, material. The reclosable bag is configured with an integral pour spout having a reclosable fastener to facilitate the pouring of material from the bag, and subsequent resealing. By locating the pour spout along an upper side of the bag, material is focused downward from the bag, and not outward, when poured. Bags configured in this manner thus provide end users with enhanced control over the dispensing rate and direction of their contents. In some embodiments, the bag is also configured as a self-supporting bag capable of resting generally upright upon its bottom end.

A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key-receiving entry in the housing receives at least a portion of the customer's key to be duplicated, and a key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank magazine within the housing stores key blanks for each of the preselected key types. A key blank extraction system extracts from the magazine a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank.

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.

A key duplication system comprising a key duplication housing wherein at least one key receiving aperture on a first side of the housing sized to receive a key blade and at least one key clamp adjacent to the at least one key receiving aperture, the clamp comprising a first clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a first key blade surface topography and a second clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a second key blade different from the first key blade.

A stroke controller is mounted on a key duplicator and has a base, a drive shaft, a knob and a driven shaft. The base has a longitudinal shaft hole and a transverse shaft hole. The drive shaft is mounted rotatably through the transverse shaft hole. The knob is mounted on the drive shaft and has a drive gear. The driven shaft is mounted slidably through the longitudinal shaft hole and has a rack section engaging the drive shaft so that rotating the knob drives the driven shaft to slide relative to the base. The stroke controller precisely controls the movement of an original key and a key workpiece clamped on the key duplicator to manufacture a fine key duplicate.

In a machine tool having a rotary shaft for use in rotating a tool or a workpiece, a plurality of stable rotation speeds at which the chatter vibrations are expected to be suppressed, and at least one switching rotation speed across which a dynamic characteristic of a rotary shaft system changes are stored. The plurality of stable rotation speeds may be determined from chatter vibrations detected using a vibration detection unit. Optimum rotation speed that is a rotation speed to which a rotation speed of the rotary shaft is changeable without crossing the switching rotation speed is selected from the plurality of stable rotation speeds, and the rotation speed of the rotary shaft is changed to the optimum rotation speed. Thus, chatter vibrations generated during rotation of the rotary shaft can be suppressed effectively.

A support ring for a rotary assembly such as a propeller assembly includes support cups for receiving blade roots of propeller blades. The support cups are interconnected by bridging structures. Each bridging structure includes bridging walls which extend radially from a bridging web. The bridging structures thus have a channel-shaped cross-section. The bridging walls have a scalloped configuration at their radially outer edges. As a result of this configuration, the neutral axes of the bridging structures are straight, so that the support ring behaves, in structural terms, as a polygon.

Secure access to a database of upgrade data is provided by storing an encryption key value in a cable used to interconnect a first device and a second device that is associated with the database of upgrade data. The second device allows access to the database of upgrade data via the cable only when the cable is first positively authenticated by the second device through use of the encryption key value stored in the cable.

An apparatus and a method of compensating for an I/Q imbalance in a direct up-conversion system prevents the performance of the system from being deteriorated by efficiently compensating for an I/Q timing skew, an I/Q phase imbalance, and an I/Q gain imbalance by using a characteristic of an OFDM scheme in an Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiple (Access) (OFDM(A)) system using a direct up-conversion scheme. According to the apparatus and the method of compensating for an I/Q imbalance in the direct up-conversion system of the present invention, an OFDM(A) system using a direct up-conversion scheme may efficiently compensate for I/Q timing skew, I/Q phase imbalance, and I/Q gain imbalance by using a characteristic of an OFDMA scheme, so that a performance of the system is prevented from being deteriorated.

In an angle modulated radio transmitter, the total power is the same when modulated or unmodulated. Angle modulation produces multiple sideband pairs. The power in the sidebands is derived from the carrier. When a complex modulating waveform is used, the power (and therefore the amplitude) of the carrier varies. A system and method is provided for dramatically minimizing, to nearly zero, the bandwidth needed to transmit digital information using sideband suppression of angle modulated signals. The systems described use various techniques to suppress sideband pairs, leaving the carrier signal. The amplitude variations of the carrier are used to convey information. In some examples, techniques are used to filter and/or phase out one or more sideband pairs, leaving the carrier signal.

In one embodiment, interference suppression is improved by improving convergence criteria. For some embodiments, convergence is improved by employing non-constant alpha-beta-weighting. For other embodiments, convergence is improved by employing successive interference suppression methods that have guaranteed convergence properties.

In a wireless network, plural downlink signals from plural base stations are transmitted to a terminal. The plural downlink signals all carry the same information to the terminal. The terminal provides feedback on the downlink channels. The feedback provides information on the taps of the channels. The amount of information fed back is constrained. Based on the feedback, transmission parameters of the downlink signals are adjusted. The process of transmitting, providing feedback, and adjusting the parameters continue so that the energy of the downlink signal is enhanced at the terminal location and suppressed elsewhere. Beam forming can be used to further suppress the energy signature at locations other than the terminal location.

A coupling device for use in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network may be configured to disable an upstream path through it when there is only noise incident on the upstream path, and enable the upstream path through it when a desired transmission from a cable modem downstream of the coupling device is incident on the upstream path. The coupling device may be a trunk amplifier, a distribution amplifier, a splitter, or the like. The coupling device may comprise a single upstream interface coupled to a plurality of downstream interfaces. The enabling and/or disabling may be in response to a signal strength indicated by the SSI being below a threshold and/or in response to one or more control messages indicating whether any downstream cable modem is, or will be, transmitting.