An input receiver circuit including a single-to-differential amplifier and a semiconductor device including the input receiver circuit are disclosed. The input receiver circuit includes a first stage amplifier unit and a second stage amplifier unit. The first stage amplifier unit amplifies a single input signal in a single-to-differential mode to generate a differential output signal, without using a reference voltage. The second stage amplifier unit amplifies the differential output signal in a differential-to-single mode to generate a single output signal.

A TIA circuit and method are provided that merge the automatic gain control function with the bandwidth adjustment function to allow the TIA circuit to operate over a wide dynamic range at multiple data rates. The TIA circuit has an effective resistance that is adjustable for adjusting the gain and the bandwidth of the TIA circuit. The mechanism of the TIA circuit that is used to adjust the effective resistance, and hence the gain and bandwidth of the TIA circuit, is temperature independent, and as such, the performance of the TIA circuit is not affected by temperature variations.

An amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a TIA, and a compensation circuit. The TIA includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first current source connected to the first input terminal and an emitter of the first transistor, a second current source connected to the second input terminal and an emitter of the second transistor, a first load resistor connected to a collector of the first transistor, and a second load resistor connected to a collector of the second transistor. A bias voltage is supplied to bases of the first and second transistors, the compensation circuit adjusts a first load current and a second load current based on voltage signals, and the TIA outputs the voltage signals based on collector voltages of the first and second transistors.

Split amplifiers with configurable gain and linearization circuitry are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes first and second amplifier circuits and a linearization circuit, which may be part of an amplifier. The first and second amplifier circuits are coupled in parallel and to an amplifier input. The linearization circuit is also coupled to the amplifier input. The first and second amplifier circuits are enabled in a high-gain mode. One of the first and second amplifier circuits is enabled in a low-gain mode. The linearization circuit is enabled in the second mode and disabled in the first mode. The amplifier is split into multiple sections. Each section includes an amplifier circuit and is a fraction of the amplifier. High linearly may be obtained using one amplifier circuit and the linearization circuit in the low-gain mode.

Embodiments include systems and methods for accurately controlling gain of a high-speed variable-gain amplifier (VGA) without adversely impacting bandwidth performance. Embodiments include a VGA with a variable resistor, for which resistance is a function of a control level. A gain calibration system controls the control level by using a gain control feedback subsystem to sample outputs of a duplicate VGA, which includes a duplicate variable resistor. The sampled duplicate outputs are compared to a target gain generated by a reference generator. The control level can be fed back to control the gain of the duplicate VGA until the target gain is reached. The control level can also be fed to the actual VGA to control its gain. By performing gain control on the duplicate VGA without interfering with the output signal path of the actual VGA, the actual VGA's gain can be accurately controlled without impacting its bandwidth.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to operating a multi-stage amplifier with low-voltage supply voltages. A multi-stage amplifier may include a first path of an amplifier output stage configured to convey an output signal if a first supply voltage is greater than a threshold voltage. The multi-stage amplifier may also include a second path of the amplifier output stage configured to convey the output signal if the first supply voltage is less than or equal to the threshold voltage.

A variable gain amplifier (100) includes a transistor (110), an FB impedance section (120), a source impedance section (130), a drain impedance section (140), a gain controller (150), and a frequency characteristic controller (160). The gain controller (150) varies impedance of one of the FB impedance section (140), the source impedance section (130), and the drain impedance section (140), and outputs a gain control signal. The frequency characteristic controller (160) varies the impedance of different impedance section, based on the gain control signal.

A microwave semiconductor amplifier includes a semiconductor amplifier element, an input matching circuit and an output matching circuit. The semiconductor amplifying element includes an input electrode and an output electrode and has a capacitive output impedance. The input matching circuit is connected to the input electrode. The output matching circuit includes a bonding wire and a first transmission line. The bonding wire includes first and second end portions. The first end portion is connected to the output electrode. The second end portion is connected to one end portion of the first transmission line. A fundamental impedance and a second harmonic impedance seen toward the external load change toward the one end portion. The second harmonic impedance at the one end portion has an inductive reactance. The output matching circuit matches the capacitive output impedance of the semiconductor amplifying element to the fundamental impedance of the external load.

A tunable wide band driver amplifier is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a first band selection circuit selectively connected between an output terminal of an amplifier and a circuit ground. The first band selection circuit configured to adjust an amplification band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. The apparatus also includes a first harmonic reduction circuit selectively connected between the first band selection circuit and the circuit ground and configured to reduce 2nd harmonic frequencies associated with the first frequency band when the amplification band is set to the first frequency band.

An apparatus is described that includes an audio power amplifier having an input and an output. An alternating-current to direct-current power converter is coupled to the audio power amplifier in a single package to supply power to the audio power amplifier.

Disclosed is a technique for reducing noise superimposed on an output signal while keeping loop gain constant without increasing the circuit scale and without changing the transfer function of the amplifier apparatus (frequency characteristics of gain and phase). According to the technique, there are included a power-supply voltage control unit 7 for detecting the amplitude level S9 of an input audio signal S1 and outputting power with a voltage value indicated by target set voltage value information Vs corresponding to this amplitude level S9, and a PWM modulation unit 2 including a PWM converter 23 for converting the pulse width of the input audio signal S1 and a correction unit for correcting the signal modulated by the PWM converter 23. The PWM modulation unit 2 corrects the pulse width of a PWM signal S5 modulated by the PWM converter 23 so that the correction unit will cancel out a change in amplification gain of a power amplification unit 4 according to the target set voltage value information Vs.

A pop-free single-ended output class-D amplifier includes: an input signal generator for generating an input signal; a power supply for supplying input power; a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage; a gain-adjustable stage for generating an amplified signal according to the reference voltage and adjusting a gain of the single-ended output class-D amplifier; a pulse width modulation module for outputting a pulse width modulation signal according to the reference voltage, the amplified signal, and the input power; a low-pass filter for low-pass filtering the pulse width modulation signal to generate an output voltage; and a logic controller for generating at least one control signal to control the reference voltage generator, the gain-adjustable stage, and the pulse width modulation module according to the input power, the reference voltage, and the pulse width modulation signal.

An electronic circuit, including, a power amplifier adapted to amplify an RF signal and provide it as output from the integrated circuit; a power source that is adapted to provide an unregulated voltage to the power amplifier; a regulator adapted to provide a regulated bias voltage; a subtracter that is adapted to accept a voltage proportional to the unregulated voltage and subtract it from the bias voltage to provide a reference voltage to the power amplifier; wherein the power amplifier is adapted to use the reference voltage to adjust the output from the power amplifier so that it will provide a stable power output.

Differential amplifier circuits for LDMOS-based amplifiers are disclosed. The differential amplifier circuits comprise a high resistivity substrate and separate DC and AC ground connections. Such amplifier circuits may not require thru-substrate vias for ground connection.

Differential power amplifier circuitry includes a differential transistor pair, an input transformer, and biasing circuitry. The base contact of each transistor in the differential transistor pair may be coupled to the input transformer through a coupling capacitor. The coupling capacitors may be designed to resonate with the input transformer about a desired frequency range, thereby passing desirable signals to the differential transistor pair while blocking undesirable signals. The biasing circuitry may include a pair of emitter follower transistors, each coupled at the emitter to the base contact of each one of the transistors in the differential transistor pair and adapted to bias the differential transistor pair to maximize efficiency and stability.

An amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit, including a capacitor, is coupled to the amplifier circuit. Components of the feedback circuit are selected based on a feedback factor such that an input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit.

A semiconductor package device comprises a radio frequency power transistor having an output port operably coupled to a single de-coupling capacitance located within the semiconductor package device. The single de-coupling capacitance is arranged to provide both high frequency decoupling and low frequency decoupling of signals output from the radio frequency power transistor.

A power amplifier module includes a power amplifier including a GaAs bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 3×1016 cm−3 at a junction with the base, the collector also having at least a first grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and an RF transmission line driven by the power amplifier, the RF transmission line including a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer, the finish plating including a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a diffusion barrier layer proximate the palladium layer, the diffusion barrier layer including nickel and having a thickness that is less than about the skin depth of nickel at 0.9 GHz. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

A power amplifier includes: first and second bias terminals to which bias voltages are respectively supplied; a first transistor having a first control terminal connected to the first bias terminal, a first terminal that is grounded, and a second terminal; a second transistor having a second control terminal connected to the second bias terminal, a third terminal connected to the second terminal, and a fourth terminal; a capacitor connected between the second control terminal and a grounding point; and a variable resistor connected in series with the capacitor, between the second control terminal and the grounding point.

Systems and methods are provided for generating an amplitude modulation signal to a switchmode power amplifier. A DC to DC switch is configured to receive a DC input voltage and to provide a DC output voltage. A low dropout regulator is configured to provide the amplitude modulation signal according to a modulation control signal received by the low dropout regulator. A control circuit is configured to establish a nominal operating power level for the power amplifier via the amplitude modulation signal and to maintain a minimum voltage difference between the DC output voltage and the low dropout regulator output. A modulator control circuit is configured to provide the modulation control signal to the low dropout regulator. The modulator control circuit provides the transition from a high amplitude to a low amplitude and a transition from the low amplitude to the high amplitude at configurable first and second slopes, respectively.

A transceiver includes: a power amplifying circuit arranged to generate differential output signals during a transmitting mode of the transceiver; a balance-unbalance circuit arranged to convert the differential output signals into a single-ended output signal; a switchable matching circuit arranged to receive the single-ended output signal on a signal port of the transceiver during the transmitting mode, and to convert a single-ended receiving signal on the signal port into a single-ended input signal during a receiving mode of the transceiver; and a low-noise amplifying circuit arranged to convert the single-ended input signal into a low-noise input signal during the receiving mode. The power amplifying circuit, the Balun, the switchable matching circuit, and the low-noise amplifying circuit are configured as a single chip.

Systems and methods are provided for amplifying multiple input signals to generate multiple output signals. An example system includes a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is configured to receive one or more first input signals, process information associated with the one or more first input signals and a first ramp signal, and generate one or more first output signals. The second channel is configured to receive one or more second input signals, process information associated with the one or more second input signals and a second ramp signal, and generate one or more second output signals. The first ramp signal corresponds to a first phase. The second ramp signal corresponds to a second phase. The first phase and the second phase are different.

An amplifier includes a signal processing circuit configured to generate an orthogonal signal orthogonal to an input signal; a first D/A converter configured to convert the orthogonal signal into a first analog signal; a second D/A converter configured to convert the input signal into a second analog signal; and an analog computing circuit configured to generate a constant envelope signal based on the first analog signal from the first D/A converter and the second analog signal from the second D/A converter.

An apparatus for amplifying power is provided. The apparatus includes a supply modulator for generating a supply voltage based on an amplitude component of a transmission signal, and a power amplify module for amplifying power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage, wherein the power amplify module includes a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, and when an output power of the transmission signal is greater than a reference power, the first power amplifier amplifies the power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage, and when the output power of the transmission signal is equal to or less than the reference power, the second power amplifier amplifies the power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage.

The present invention relates to devices and systems that alter intracranial compliance, cerebral blood flow and/or intracranial pressure pulsatility/waveform by oscillating the contraction and expansion of a compressible composition within the cranial or spinal cavities such that they increase intracranial capacity. The contraction and expansion of the compressible composition in the oscillating compliance devices can be due to an individual's intracranial pressure, the result of the expansion and compression of a reservoir which is mediated by the contractility of the heart or driven by a pump gaited to a biorhythm. The invention also relates to methods for protecting an individual's brain from abnormal arterial pulsations and for altering an individual's cerebral blood flow using the devices and systems of the invention. The oscillating compliance devices can be used to treat several diseases and/or conditions characterized by altered/abnormal intracranial compliance, cerebral blood flow and/or intracranial pressure pulsatility/waveform, including hydrocephalus, stroke, dementia and migraine headaches, vasospasms, congestive heart failure, cardiopulmonary bypass or carotid endarterectomy.

The present invention is a serial to parallel data conversion method and device where new serial data are stored within a first n-bit register prior to presentation at an n-bit parallel output. Subsequently, additional data are stored within a second n-bit register while the data stored within the first register are presented at the parallel output. Data storage and data presentation are thereafter alternated, thereby eliminating the problem of setup time seen in prior art.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for explicit filtering in ambiguous text entry. The invention provides embodiments including various explicit text entry methodologies, such as 2-key and long pressing. The invention also provides means for matching words in a database using build around methodology, stem locking methodology, word completion methodology, and n-gram searches.

A robot bumper assembly includes a bumper body, a first sensor array, and a second sensor array. The first sensor array is disposed along and contoured to the periphery of a forward facing portion of the bumper body and senses contact with an external environment at positions along the contour of the periphery forward facing portion of the bumper body. The second sensor array is disposed along and contoured to the periphery of a top portion of the forward facing portion of the robot body. The top portion is angled, ramping up. The second sensor array senses contact with an external environment at positions along the periphery of the angled top portion of the bumper body.

A robot bumper including a bumper body having a forward surface and a top surface angling away from the forward surface. The bumper body conforms to a shape of a received robot chassis. The robot bumper also includes a force absorbing layer disposed on the bumper body, a membrane switch layer comprising a plurality of electrical contacts arranged along the top surface of the bumper body, and a force transmission layer disposed between the force absorbing layer and the membrane switch layer. The force transmission layer includes a plurality of force transmitting elements configured to transmit force to the membrane switch layer.

What is described is a middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles, comprising two coupling halves (2, 2') to be coupled together attached to vehicle parts (A, B), each of said coupling halves (2, 2') comprising a coupling rod (8, 8') with a coupling head (12, 12'), and comprising a connecting element (16) for manually connecting the two coupling heads (12, 12'). Disposed at each coupling head (12, 12') is an electrical contact element (32, 34) for contacting with the contact element of the other respective coupling head (12, 12') when the two coupling halves (2, 2') are coupled. Routed within each coupling rod (8, 8') are electrical lines (18, 18') that lead from the contact elements (32, 34) of the associated coupling head (12, 12') to the vehicle part (A, B) to which the coupling halves (2, 2') comprising said coupling rods (8, 8') are attached, respectively.

A coupling unit for a semi-permanent connection of two wagons of a rail vehicle, which has a first housing and a second housing, which is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the first housing. A bearing outer ring with a hollow spherical inner bearing surface is fastened to the second housing and is guided in sliding fashion on a bearing inner ring with a spherical outer surface. The bearing inner ring is seated with an inner bore on a shaft fastened to the first housing. The shaft has, on a first end, one or two flattened portions and, on a second end, one or two second flattened portions. At least one clamping piece is provided which bears against one of the flattened portions and an opening region in the first housing, thereby preventing the shaft from rotating.

An adapter coupler (1) for adapting couplings of different design, wherein the adapter coupler (1) comprises a first connecting mechanism for releasably connecting the adapter coupler (1) to a first coupling, a second connecting mechanism for releasably connecting the adapter coupler (1) to the drawhook (50) of a second coupling, and a coupler housing (2) for connecting the first connecting mechanism to the second connecting mechanism, and wherein the second connecting mechanism comprises a tension yoke (8) with which to engage with the drawhook (50) of the second coupling. The adapter coupler (1) having a mechanism for height centering, comprising a drawbar eye (14) connected to the coupler housing (2), wherein the drawbar eye (14) is arranged and configured relative the tension yoke (8) such that upon the adapter coupler (1) being inserted into the jaw of the drawhook (50) of the second coupling, the drawhook (50) can engage in one joint process with both the accommodation formed by the tension yoke (8) as well as with the drawbar eye (14).

An electrical contact coupling for a track-borne vehicle has a coupling housing and a protective flap articulated to the coupling housing. In order to ensure a reliable sealing of the coupling housing in the closed state of the electrical contact coupling, a seal is utilized which exhibits an upper sealing area running parallel to the axis of rotation and a lower sealing area running parallel to the axis of rotation. The upper sealing area associates with a sealing face aligned perpendicular to the housing end face and the lower sealing area associates with a sealing face aligned substantially parallel to the housing end face.

A coupling for a communication conduit is disclosed for use with a train consist. The coupling may include a nipple configured for insertion within a fluid conduit, a flange configured to engage an end of the fluid conduit, a retention member configured to engage an outer surface of the fluid conduit, a first fitting extending from the flange away from the nipple, and, a retaining tab configured to retain a second fitting of another coupling in engagement with the first fitting. The coupling may further include a closure mechanism configured to close off an end of the first fitting and movable during engagement with the second fitting to open the end of the first fitting.

A coupling arrangement for the front of a tracked vehicle is disclosed, comprising a central buffer coupling having a gladhand, a coupling shaft supporting the gladhand and a bearing, via which the coupling shaft can be joined with the undercarriage of the vehicle pivotable in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. An energy consuming device allocated to the central buffer coupling having at least one energy consuming element with a destructive design is provided. To ensure maximum energy consumption in a crash with a course of events definable in advance, the coupling arrangement additionally comprises a supporting structure with two longitudinal beams arranged on the sides of the central buffer coupling and a crossbeam joined with the two longitudinal beams, said crossbeam beam being arranged above the central buffer coupling such that a vertical deflection of the coupling shaft relative to the undercarriage of the vehicle is limited by the crossbeam.

The invention relates to an articulated coupling between a first car (3) and a second car of a vehicle, especially a railway vehicle, having at least two cars, said articulated coupling including a first element (33) capable of being connected to said first car (3) and a second element (35) capable of being connected to said second car, a device for moving said second element (35) in translation relative to said first element (33) in the event of an impact, and an energy absorber capable of being arranged between said first (3) and second (19) cars. The energy absorber is arranged between said first (33) and second (35) elements, and in the first element (33) is designed to allow persons to pass between said first car (3) and said second car.

A mechanical coupling, particularly in a draftgear in rail vehicles, includes a central plate (5) turnably mounted in a coupler head and having a link (7) pivoted in the same, and including a hooking mechanism for detachable hooking up of the central plate and the link in the non coupled position of the coupling, and a releasing device (10) for the automatic detachment of the hooking mechanism upon coupling. The hooking mechanism includes a hooking rod (12) pivotally connected with the central plate, which rod, by a lug (16), clutches a collar (11) arranged in the coupler head and, upon activation of the releasing device, detaches from the collar. A leaf spring (13) is arranged in the coupler head in order to, in abutment against the hooking rod, force the same, under the bias from the spring, to be pressed against the collar in the hooked up and disengaged positions.

A coupler head for a coupling arrangement is shown, which coupler head includes a coupler head housing (6) extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end (6a), attachable to a drawbar, to a second end (6b), which is arranged to carry a coupling interface between coupled rail vehicles, which coupler head housing houses mechanical coupling components (8,9) effective for automatic coupling to the corresponding components of a connecting coupling arrangement. The coupler head is characterized in that the coupler head housing has at least one notch (11, 11') for a predetermined and primarily axial compression thereof with absorption of energy from a deforming compressive force that is applied to the coupler head in the longitudinal direction thereof. The coupler head has preferably at least one notch (11, 11') for a predetermined folding of the coupler head housing.

A device for coupling tilting railroad cars onto a high-speed railroad train comprises a coupler and a shock absorber held in a shock absorber frame, each joined by a coupling pin via a coupling joint. The frame includes a front inner surface with a front end wall opening and a cylindrical surface extending to a semi-circular concave inner surface. The joint includes a rounded convex surface engaged with a semi-circular concave surface, a circumferential surface of a short cylinder receiving the rear portion of the coupler, and an insertion hole which is provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the short cylinder. The frame has a removal hole and an air removal pin of the coupling pin facing each other at a position to rotate at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction in the assembled state, and at a position coaxial with the coupling pin in the assembled state.

An electric coupling for railways contains a first and a second coupling part each comprising a support in which a plurality of linking parts are arranged for establishing an electric, pneumatic and/or hydraulic link from one coupling part to another coupling part. In addition, at least one high-frequency link is provided which is formed by an enclosed antenna in one coupling part and by an enclosed antenna in the other coupling part.

A railway vehicle has a cover for a front coupling of the railway vehicle. The cover is formed of at least one displaceable front hatch that can be displaced by a drive between an opened and a closed end position. A displacement of the at least one front hatch is guided such that the displacement takes place along a circular segment path about a rotary axis.

A method of treatment of water in an aquatic environment. Water is first pumped from a reservoir to a first mixing station. An inert gas is introduced into the pumped water at the first mixing station to provide inert gas saturated water, which inert gas saturated water will displace undesired gasses in the water in the reservoir. The inert gas saturated water is then pumped to a sparging column such that the inert gas and undesired gasses will be released from the inert gas saturated water to provide depleted water.

An apparatus for safety-compliant emptying and filling of a reagent container (24, 40) for a tissue processor (20) comprises a suction line (30, 42) for aspirating a reagent out of the reagent container (24, 40) and a delivery line (32, 44) for filling the reagent container (24, 40) with the reagent, a terminating opening (31, 43) of the suction line (30, 42) being spaced away from a terminating opening (33, 45) of the delivery line (32, 44).

A power-supply circuit for a DC appliance includes an input unit including a first terminal and a second terminal so as to receive a DC current, an output unit including a third terminal to output the DC current entered by the input unit and a fourth terminal, a connection unit including a first conductive line and a second conductive line so as to interconnect the input unit and the output unit, a rectifier unit including first to fourth diodes coupled as a bridge diode format so as to rectify the input DC current in a predetermined direction, an inductor unit that is connected in series to the rectifier unit in such a manner that the input DC current is gradually increased from an abrupt change time point of the DC current, and a condenser unit that is connected in series to the inductor unit.

A system that manages a supplemental energy source connected to a power grid uses a two stage control strategy to manage power transfers in and out of the power grid as well as in and out of an energy storage system, such as a battery bank. One stage uses a non-linear transfer function to control an output frequency of a DC-to-AC inverter to limit undesired effects of power transients that occur on the grid. A second stage uses control strategy for transferring energy between the energy storage system and an internal DC link based on a relationship between a voltage on a DC link connecting the first and second stages and a DC link reference voltage, the voltage on the DC link, and a voltage at the energy storage system. The control strategy includes rapid charging, over-charging protection, and grid transient stabilization.

A coupling assembly for joining a first component to a second component, the assembly comprising a shaft for connecting to a first component, and a bracket including a mounting plate for connecting to a second component. The bracket has a bracket arm extending from the mounting plate, and a head having a through-bore on the bracket arm. The shaft is received in the through-bore. A setting device acts between the head and the shaft for setting of the position of the shaft with respect to the head in the axial direction of the shaft. The assembly further includes one or more spherical bearing surfaces, which permit self-alignment of the setting device to accommodate tilting of the shaft with respect to the head about a central point in two orthogonal directions. Also, a joint comprising a first component joined to a second component by one or more of the coupling assemblies. Also, a method of forming a joint using one or more of the coupling assemblies.

The spiroid wing tip according to embodiments of the invention including a continuous segmental assembly having a closed loop frontal profile comprising a lower near vertical segment, a horizontal segment, a vertical segment, a second horizontal upper segment, and a near vertical segment. Accordingly to some embodiments of the invention, the spiroid profile is lowered with respect to the wing chord plane, such that a portion of the spiroid wing tip extends below the wing chord plane.

Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment; processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

Disclosed herein is a system comprising an evaporation unit comprising a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger; where the first heat exchanger is operative to heat an effluent stream comprising an amine solvent and/or amine byproducts and water and to discharge the effluent stream to the second heat exchanger; where the second heat exchanger is operative to convert the effluent stream into a distillate stream and a concentrate stream; and a reverse osmosis unit in fluid communication with the evaporation unit; where the reverse osmosis unit comprises a first reverse osmosis unit that is operative to receive the distillate stream and to separate water from byproducts of the amine solvent such that the water has a purity of greater than 95%, based on the weight of the distillate stream.

A device, system, and associated methods for appliance lifts are disclosed. The appliance lift sits on the bottom of a cabinet, rolls forward and rotates forward and up using four rotating bars and a gear with spring and damper linking them together. This system consists of a platform dimensioned of a size and shape to support most kitchen counter-top appliances or any other like sized items. The platform is supported by a series of linkages housed in a frame. The frame is then on a moveable track. The entire structure is sized to fit inside the lower section of a standard kitchen cabinet.