lly Heteroleptic (allyl)(pyrroles-2-aldiminate) metal-containing precursors, their synthesis and vapor deposition thereof to deposit metal-containing films By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are metal-containing precursors having the formula Compound (I) wherein: —M is a metal selected from Ni, Co, Mn, Pd; and —each of R-1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently selected from H; a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group; a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkylsilyl group (mono, bis, or tris alkyl); a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkylamino group; or a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic fluoroalkyl group. Also disclosed are methods of synthesizing and using the disclosed metal-containing precursors to deposit metal-containing films on a substrate via a vapor deposition process. Full Article
lly Electromagnetic flow regulator, system and methods for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor. Full Article
lly Thermally stable low power chip clocking By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of controlling an integrated circuit chip including first and second clock sources, the first clock source being more thermally stable and having a higher power consumption, the integrated circuit chip being operable in a first mode in which the first clock source is inactive and the second clock source active and in a second mode in which the first and second clock sources are active, the method including operating the integrated circuit chip in the first mode; taking a measurement indicative of temperature; if the measurement indicates that the temperature is outside of a temperature band: activating the first clock source so as to operate the integrated circuit chip in the second mode; recalibrating the second clock source against the first clock source; and following the recalibration, deactivating the first clock source so as to return the integrated circuit chip to the first mode. Full Article
lly Electronically programmable fuse security encryption By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor structure including a device configured to receive an input data-word. The device including a logic structure configured to generate an encrypted data-word by encrypting the input data-word through an encrypting operation. The device further including an eFuse storage device configured to store the encrypted data-word as eFuse data by blowing fuses in accordance with the encrypted data-word. Full Article
lly Metering device for sand spreading devices, especially for rail vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 08:00:00 EDT Metering or dosing device for sand spreading apparatuses with a metering piston for sealing off and releasing the throughflow opening for the material to be spread, in which the metering piston and the opposite housing wall of the passage hole have profiles overlapping each other so that a labyrinth-like outflow of the spread material results. Full Article
lly Metering device for sand spreading devices, especially for rail vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EDT Metering or dosing device for sand spreading apparatuses with a metering piston for sealing off and releasing the throughflow opening for the material to be spread, in which the metering piston and the opposite housing wall of the passage hole have profiles overlapping each other so that a labyrinth-like outflow of the spread material results. Full Article
lly Carbon nanotube assembly and electrically conductive film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes wherein a mixture of 10 mg of aggregate of carbon nanotubes, 30 mg of sodium polystyrene sulfonate and 10 mL of water is subjected to ultrasonic homogenizer treatment, subsequently subjected to centrifugal treatment at 20000 G, then 9 mL of supernatant is sampled, and the content of aggregate of carbon nanotubes in the supernatant is 0.6 mg/mL or more. The aggregate of carbon nanotubes of the present invention can provide a dispersion of an aggregate of carbon nanotubes having a high concentration through very good dispersibility. Full Article
lly Kinetically stable chlorinated polysilanes and production thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes include mixture of compounds having respectively at least four silicon atoms bound together, the substituents thereof comprising chlorine, and chlorine and hydrogen, and in the composition thereof, the atomic ratio of substituent to silicon is at least 1:1, wherein a) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a kinetically high stability in relation to oxidative splitting by chlorine, and the degree of conversion at temperatures of 120° C. within 10 hours with an excess of chlorine gas at 1013 hPa does not exceed 30 mol %, and b) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a percentage of branching points in the polysilane molecules of more than 8 mol %. Full Article
lly Vertically adjustable shelf support assembly for an appliance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
lly Insulating anti-corrosive rail clamp integrally made of polymeric composition By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a rail clamp for fastening rail equipment, said rail clamp being integrally composed of a polymeric composition produced by pultrusion or molding, vacuum molding or compression molding. It has high mechanical strength. It is anticorrosive and insulating and is preferably composed of a resin and reinforcing fibers and/or a thermoplastic. It is advantageously formed as a one piece structure. The rail clamp is especially used to fasten rails to base slabs and has economic advantages compared to the rail clamps known in the art, which are made of steel coated with rubber. Full Article
lly Environmentally sealed docking device and method, having a zipper and a slide By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A closure having two profile strips for an at least partially flexible container for connecting a first container to a second container in a manner sealed against the environment in a such a way that a closed docking position can be obtained. Further the closure provides for conducting a flow in a sealed manner against the environment in a flow direction through the closure from the first container into the second container in such a way that an open docking position can be obtained. According to the described system, the second container facing the first container is designed with an identical closure that engages in the closure of the first container in the open docking position and forms a channel for the flow in the flow direction together with the closure. Full Article
lly Apparatus and method for sequentially anchoring multiple graft ligaments in a bone tunnel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface and at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by the sleeve and/or the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface, the frictional engagement of each graft ligament being temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament. Full Article
lly Fully automatic self-service key duplicating kiosk By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
lly Axially-split radial turbines and methods for the manufacture thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of an axially-split radial turbine, as are embodiments of a method for manufacturing an axially-split radial turbine. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of joining a forward bladed ring to a forward disk to produce a forward turbine rotor, fabricating an aft turbine rotor, and disposing the forward turbine rotor and the aft turbine rotor in an axially-abutting, rotationally-fixed relationship to produce the axially-split radial turbine. Full Article
lly Seal assembly including grooves in a radially outwardly facing side of a platform in a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly between a disc cavity and a turbine section hot gas path includes a stationary vane assembly and a rotating blade assembly downstream from the vane assembly and including a plurality of blades that are supported on a platform and rotate with a turbine rotor and the platform during operation of the engine. The platform includes a radially outwardly facing first surface, a radially inwardly facing second surface, a third surface, and a plurality of grooves extending into the third surface. The grooves are arranged such that a space is defined between adjacent grooves. During operation of the engine, the grooves guide purge air out of the disc cavity toward the hot gas path such that the purge air flows in a desired direction with reference to a direction of hot gas flow through the hot gas path. Full Article
lly Automatically loading printing device and method of printing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT A printing device is provided with a print die storage rack, a pickup head, a print head, and a printing surface. The print die storage rack is adapted to hold a multitude of print dies. The pickup head is provided to move one or more print dies to and from the storage rack and the print head. The print head is adapted to hold one or more print dies and move them between the pickup head and the printing surface. The printing surface is provided to hold and secure print media. The device is capable of any form of printing, embossing, debossing, foil stamping and the like. A method of printing is also provided. Full Article
lly Mechanically short multi-carriage tuner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Mechanically short multi-carriage impedance tuners use meandering slabline structures. The meandering structure reduces the overall tuner length by a factor of 2.5 at 0.4 GHz. The critical issue of slabline bends is addressed with several low loss, low reflection alternatives. A preferred configuration comprises a vertical-horizontal slabline transition. Cable connections are discarded because of reflections and insertion loss. Measured results show acceptable performance. The tuner is mostly interesting for relatively lower microwave frequencies, such as 1 GHz. Full Article
lly Method and apparatus for generating electricity by thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material using heat from condensers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated by extracting thermal energy from a gas to condense the gas into a liquid and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material in thermal communication with a heat source, wherein the heat source is a condenser. An apparatus is also described which comprises a chamber, one or more conduits inside the chamber for conveying a cooling fluid and an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes on an outer surface of the conduit. A gas introduced into the chamber condenses on the conduits and thermal energy is thereby transferred from the gas to the electrically polarizable material. Full Article
lly Method and apparatus for generating electricity by thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material using heat from various sources and a vehicle comprising the apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated using thermal energy obtained from: a combustion reaction; solar energy; a nuclear reaction; ocean water; geothermal energy; or thermal energy recovered from an industrial process. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material. The heat source used to heat the material can be: a combustion apparatus; a solar thermal collector; or a component of a furnace exhaust device. Alternatively, the heat exchanger can be a device for extracting thermal energy from the earth, the sun, ocean water, an industrial process, a combustion reaction or a nuclear reaction. A vehicle is also described which comprises an apparatus for converting heat to electrical energy connected to an electric motor. Full Article
lly Method and system for automatically adapting end user power usage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system, method and apparatus for automatically adapting power grid usage by controlling internal and/or external power-related assets of one or more users in response to power regulation and/or frequency regulation functions in a manner beneficial to both the power grid itself and the users of the power grid. Full Article
lly System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (letting water pass by electrical conductors) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT An arrangement adapted for letting water pass by electrical conductors and their contact surfaces related to a track of a system adapted for electrically driving a vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be supplied with current and put under voltage. At least two or three tracks are disposed parallel to each other in a common rail structure, with at least two of these tracks being adapted to support and contain individual electrical conductors with contact surfaces put under voltage, and wherein at least one track is disposed closer to the highest point of the roadway and adjacent to a track containing one of said conductors with contact surfaces, which may be put under voltage. Full Article
lly System adapted for one or more vehicles, which may be driven forward electrically By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention has its application to a system for driving an electric and by one or more batteries powered vehicle along a roadway, comprising “a” one or more vehicles, which may be driven by an individual electric motor or motors and where in the respective vehicles exhibit a power-controlling control circuit for creating the necessary power and/or speed control and wherein required power i.a. can be provided primarily by a chargeable can be provided primarily by a chargeable battery set associated with the vehicle and “b” a plurality of road sections road portions divisible for the roadway, each being allotted one or more vehicle external electric stations for charging the battery set thereby and/or for supplying necessary power and energy for driving the vehicle. The underneath side of the mentioned vehicle is provided with a contact means displaceably positioned up and down and sideways, counted in the direction of transportation. Said roadway and its road sections or portions exhibits an elongated track or groove, each road section is supporting two rails in the groove and disposed under the driving path of the road section or portion. The rails being supplied with current and voltage. Said contact means is coordinated with a control equipment for creating simple adaptation of the contact means for registering the contact means for mechanical and electrical contact against said two rails. Full Article
lly System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (cleansing means) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A cleaning means related to a vehicle-related system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. The cleaning means is rotatably fastened in an upper area thereof about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and adapted to clean the track from loose obstacles and/or yield to solid obstacles. The cleaning means and the axis of rotation are movably disposed in vertical direction by means of a resilient member. The cleaning comprises a forwardly directed edge portion oriented in the direction of travel, the edge portion comprising a point which may be brought into contact with the track and the conductor. Full Article
lly System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (battery charging arrangement) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle-related system adapted for electrically driving a vehicle along a road-way. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. A circuit, determining instantaneous power content of the set of batteries, is adapted to connect the vehicle-external power source via a switch belonging to the electric station, in order to charge the set of batteries and/or to supply power to the vehicle motor via a control circuit, when the power content of the set of batteries is at a predetermined level of power, lying below a maximum power content, and a supply of power or voltage from the vehicle-external power source is available. Full Article
lly System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (a snow plough arrangement) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A snow plough arrangement comprising a least one snow plough unit and related to a system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. The snow plough unit is rotatably fastened to the contact means in an upper area thereof about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and adapted to clear loose obstacles from the track and yield to solid obstacles. The snow plough unit and the axis of rotation are movably disposed in a vertical direction by means of a resilient member. The snow plough unit comprises a forwardly directed edge portion oriented in the direction of travel, the edge portion comprising a point, which may be brought into contact with the bottom of the track and/or the conductor. Full Article
lly Electrically driven dump truck By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which controls elevation of sliders 4Ra and 4La of power collectors 4R and 4L based on information detected by a trolley wire detecting device (camera) 15. The control device 200 calculates positional relationship between a slider and a trolley wire 3R/3L based on the information detected by the trolley wire detecting device. When the slider has deviated from a prescribed range for being in contact with the trolley wire, the control device executes control to prohibit an operation for elevating the sliders or to lower the sliders when the sliders have been elevated. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided. Full Article
lly Electrically chargeable garment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Oct 1992 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides an electrically chargeable garment having a pair of leggings having an outer layer with a pair of closely spaced electrical terminals of opposite polarity disposed on the outer surface of the outer layer. There is also provided means for attaching the leggings to a wearer and means for adjustably supporting the leggings from the wearer. Full Article
lly Sharpener, especially for a cosmetic or pharmaceutical pencil By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A sharpener for sharpening a pencil, in particular a cosmetic pencil, is especially suitable, when used correctly, for producing a particularly uniform outer jacket edge in the region of the pencil tip. The sharpener includes a sharpener body, in which a pencil guide channel is provided. The pencil guide channel has a circular cone-shaped channel section and opens out in a pencil inlet opening on the outer side of the sharpener body. A paring blade is positioned tangentially to the lateral surface of the channel section. The paring blade serves to pare off a pencil tip, which includes a front lead section and a rear outer jacket section. A shaping tool cuts a shoulder into the pencil tip, the shoulder being set back in relation to a circular cone-shaped enveloping surface of the pencil tip. The shaping tool is arranged relative to the pencil guide channel to insert the shoulder into the transition between the lead section and the outer jacket section of the pencil tip. Full Article
lly Method for mechanically scraping boards, apparatus for same, and products made therewith By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods are described for mechanically scraping surfaces of boards, such as flooring boards, to impart random-looking scraped profiles therein. An apparatus for mechanically scraping boards to form the scraped board products also is described. A board, such as a flooring board, having a random-looking scraped appearance that includes overlapping multiple scrape patterns is described. Boards, such as flooring boards, having a simulated rustic or distressed appearance made with the methods and apparatus also are described. Full Article
lly Method for producing electrically-conducting material with modified surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method to inexpensively and efficiently produce conductive materials on the surface of which a nano-level fine structure is formed includes surface modification including immersing a stable anode electrode and a workpiece as a cathode electrode, the workpiece including a conductive material with a work surface, in an electrolytic solution, then applying a voltage not less than a first voltage and less than a second voltage between the stable anode electrode and the workpiece as the cathode electrode immersed in the electrolytic solution, thereby modifying the work surface, the first voltage being a voltage corresponding to a current value that is ½ of the sum of a first maximum current value appearing first in a positive voltage region and a first minimum current value appearing first in the positive voltage region with respect to voltage-current characteristics of a surface modification treatment system, the second voltage exhibiting a complete-state plasma. Full Article
lly Electrically operated turf stacking system for sod harvesting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention extends to a stacking mechanism having electrical actuators for stacking slabs of sod on a sod harvesting machine. The electrical actuators allow the stacking head to be driven in three axes. The stacking mechanism also includes position feedback sensors for reporting the position of the stacking head to enable precision when operating the stacking head at a fast rate. The stacking mechanism of the present invention also provides temporary pallet support wings to enable the continued stacking of slabs of sod on one pallet even while another pallet is being dropped from the sod harvesting machine. Full Article
lly Oxide-based semiconductor non-linear element having gate electrode electrically connected to source or drain electrode By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT A non-linear element (e.g., a diode) with small reverse saturation current is provided. A non-linear element includes a first electrode provided over a substrate, an oxide semiconductor film provided on and in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode provided on and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film covering the first electrode, the oxide semiconductor film, and the second electrode, and a third electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film and adjacent to a side surface of the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween or a third electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film and surrounding the second electrode. The third electrode is connected to the first electrode or the second electrode. Full Article
lly Chair to assist physically challenged persons in swimming By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a swim chair that allows a mobility challenged individual to be transported across the sand with exceptional ease, to lounge on the chair and enjoy the company and sights, to be pulled into the water and, if able, to slip off the chair to go for a swim, remount the chair and return to shore. The chair includes a main frame, defined by a top frame member and two side frame members; two axle support plates, at or in communication with the side frame members of the main frame, the axle support plates having a plurality of openings to receive a wheel axle and optionally a pull rod axle; a wheel assembly; a drop seat; a footrest and a backrest. Full Article
lly Drill bit assembly having electrically isolated gap joint for measurement of reservoir properties By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drill bit assembly for measuring reservoir formation properties comprises a bit head and a pin body, and an electrically insulated gap joint between two conductive parts of the drill bit assembly. The bit head has a cutting end and an opposite connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body comprises a connecting end with an engagement section. The pin connecting end is connected to the bit head connecting end such that the engagement sections overlap. The electrically insulating gap joint can fill a gap between the bit head and pin body engagement sections such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically connected together at the connecting ends but electrically separated. Alternatively or additionally, the pin body can have two pieces which are separated by an electrically insulating gap joint. An electrical conductor is electrically connected at a first end to the bit head and is communicable at a second end with an alternating current signal to transmit an alternating current into the bit head, thereby inducing an electric current into a reservoir formation adjacent the bit head. Electronic equipment includes measurement circuitry configured to determine the alternating current at the bit head, the alternating current being inversely proportional to a bit resistivity of the formation. Full Article
lly Spatially-aware radiation probe system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A spatially-aware radiation probe system/method allowing for detection and correction of radiation readings based on the position and/or movement of a radiation detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a radiation detector combined with a spatially-aware sensor to permit detection of spatial context parameters associated with the radiation detector and/or object being probed. This spatial context information is then used by analysis software to modify the detected radiation values and/or instruct the radiation probe operator as to appropriate measurement activity to ensure accurate radiation measurements. The spatially-aware sensor may include but is not limited to: distance sensors to determine the distance between the radiation detector and the object being monitored; accelerometers integrated within the radiation detector to detect movement of the radiation detector; and/or axial orientation sensors to determine the axial orientation of the radiation detector. Full Article
lly Method of mechanically controlling the amount of energy to reach a patient undergoing intraoperative electron radiation therapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus for performing electron radiation therapy on a breast cancer patient preferably includes an intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, an intraoperative electron radiation therapy collimator tube connected to the intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, and a plurality of filters made of a material having substantially the same density as human breast tissue for placement between the machine and the patient to change the energy of a monoenergetic beam after the beam has left the machine, allowing a filter to be chosen to reduce the energy traveling through the tube to a desired amount of energy to treat the patient. A method of controlling the amount of energy to reach a breast cancer patient undergoing electron radiation therapy includes selecting a filter made of a material having substantially the same density as human tissue and placing the filter between an intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine and a breast cancer patient to change the energy of a monoenergetic beam after it has left the machine, the filter being chosen to reduce the energy traveling from the machine to a desired amount of energy to treat the patient. Full Article
lly Thermally activated magnetic and resistive aging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Examples of the present invention include apparatus and methods for monitoring aging of an item. A solid-state structure is located within, adjacent to, or otherwise proximate the item, the solid-state structure including nanostructures. The electrical resistance and/or magnetization of the solid-state structure is determined to determine the degree of aging of the item. In representative examples, the solid-state structure includes nanostructures of a metal, such as a ferromagnetic metal, within a non-magnetic matrix, such as a semimetal, semiconductor, or insulator. Full Article
lly Automatically-adjusting web media tensioning mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST An automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism for use in a roll-fed web media transport system, the tensioning mechanism adding tension to the web media, comprising a bracket assembly being adapted to freely pivot around a pivot axis, and first and second tensioning shoe having curved surfaces attached to the bracket assembly. The web media feeds through the tensioning mechanism in an S-shaped media path where the web media is wrapped around the first and second tensioning shoes. The pivot angle of the bracket assembly automatically adjusts in response to differences in a coefficient of friction between the web media and the tensioning shoes such that the tension in the web media has a reduced level of variability relative to configurations where the bracket assembly is held in a fixed position. Full Article
lly Frequency modulator having digitally-controlled oscillator with modulation tuning and phase-locked loop tuning By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A frequency modulator includes a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) arranged for producing a frequency deviation in response to a modulation tuning word and a phase-locked loop (PLL) tuning word. In addition, another frequency modulator includes a DCO and a DCO interface circuit. The DCO is arranged for producing a frequency deviation in response to an integer tuning word and a fractional tuning word. The DCO interface circuit is arranged for generating the integer tuning word and the fractional tuning word to the DCO, wherein the fractional tuning word is obtained through asynchronous sampling of a fixed-point tuning word. Full Article
lly Digitally controlled wide range pulse width modulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a digitally controlled, current starved, pulse width modulator (PWM). In the PWM of the present invention, the amount of current from the voltage source to the ring oscillator is controlled by the proposed header circuit. By changing the header current, the pulse width of the switching signal generated at the output of the ring oscillator is dynamically controlled, where the duty cycle can vary between 50% and 90%. A duty cycle to voltage converter is used to ensure the accuracy of the system under process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. The proposed pulse width modulator is appropriate for dynamic voltage scaling systems due to the small on-chip area and high accuracy under process, voltage, and temperature variations. Full Article
lly Sealed solenoid magnetically operated high voltage electric power switch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A sealed solenoid, magnetically operated electric power switch is suitable for use as capacitor, line and load switch operating at transmission and distribution voltages that includes no dynamically moving seals through the sealed container housing the contactor portion of the switch. The sealed solenoid switch includes a magnetically operated drive system with an actuator that magnetically couples across the container wall to avoid the use of a moving or sliding seal as part of the drive system. The sealed solenoid switch may also include a ballast resistor and resistor contact located inside the sealed container to avoid another seal as part of the ballast system. A magnetic latch holds the switch in a closed position, and a spring holds the switch in the closed position, to avoid the need for an energizing current to maintain the switch in either position. Full Article
lly Thermally coupled current limiter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) amplification devices and methods of limiting an RF signal current. Embodiments of the RF amplification device include an RF amplification circuit and a feedback circuit. The RF amplification circuit is configured to amplify an RF input signal so as to generate an amplified RF signal that provides an RF signal current with a current magnitude. The feedback circuit is used to limit the RF signal current. In particular, a thermal sense element in the feedback circuit is configured to generate a sense current, and thermal conduction from the RF amplification circuit sets a sense current level of the sense current as being indicative of the current magnitude of the RF signal current. To limit the RF signal current, the feedback circuit decreases the current magnitude of the RF signal current in response to the sense current level reaching a trigger current level. Full Article
lly Thermally zoned substrate holder assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A thermally zoned substrate holder including a substantially cylindrical base having top and bottom surfaces configured to support a substrate. A plurality of temperature control elements are disposed within the base. An insulator thermally separates the temperature control elements. The insulator is made from an insulting material having a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than the base (e.g., a gas- or vacuum-filled chamber). Full Article
lly Method and device for indicating the position of hydraulically armatures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Method of indicating the position of a hydraulically actuated armature, comprising an adjust cylinder for actuating the armature, connected by at least one pressure medium line to an adjustment valve through which the pressure medium line can be switched between pressure-causing forward flow and pressure-less backward flow, wherein the flow through the pressure medium line is converted into a number of electric pulses and the number of pulses reflecting the flow is processed in a program in an indicator unit such that the number of pulses occurring in a predetermined adjustment travel when the flow in the pressure medium line is pressure-less is calculated as being the same adjustment travel as when the pressure medium line is switched to be the pressure line. Full Article
lly Electrical discharge machine with automatically replaceable electrodes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 1986 08:00:00 EST An electrical discharge machine with automatically replaceable electrodes. The machine includes an electrode holder with a clamp operable to alternately receive and release an electrode, an electrode cartridge containing a plurality of stacked electrodes and a shuttle movable toward and away from the electrode holder. When the shuttle is moved toward the electrode holder, it removes an electrode from the cartridge and moves it into alignment with the electrode holder. Full Article
lly Open sleigh that disassembles to a generally flat storage position and assembles into an interlocked operating position By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 1985 08:00:00 EST A sleigh for travel over a snow covered surface adapted to be disassembled or knocked down into a storage or transport position, from an operating position, is shown. Runners of the sleigh are pivotally connected to a floorboard along side edges thereof. The runners are locked into an operating position and may be unlocked to fold against a bottom surface of the floorboard in a stored position. An upper body including a seat is formed of multiple planar pieces which are dependently interlocked with each other for assembly and later disassembly. Means are provided for interlocking the runners to a hitching assembly to which a horse is conventionally harnessed. Full Article
lly Energy absorber with staggered, vertically oriented crush lobes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A thermoplastic energy absorber having a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, and comprise: an array of energy absorbing lobes protruding from a base, the lobes arranged in two or more rows. The energy absorbing lobes can have a vertical length (L) and a horizontal width (D), and wherein a ratio of L:D is greater than 1. The energy absorbing lobes in each row can be disposed in a staggered manner with respect to energy absorbing lobes in an adjacent row. The energy absorber can be configured to be installed on a vehicle for absorption of impact energy. An energy absorbing system can comprise the thermoplastic energy absorber disposed between a bumper beam and a fascia. The fascia can optionally be configured to envelope the thermoplastic energy absorber and the bumper beam. This system passes EuroNCAP lower-leg impact requirements, version 5.1, June 2011, for lower leg impact requirement. Full Article
lly Magnetically actuated model railroad coupler By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position. Full Article
lly Articulated coupling between a first car and a second car of a vehicle, especially a railway vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
lly Polyphase converter with magnetically coupled phases By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Polyphase converter, comprising a plurality of electrical phases (11 to 16), which can each be driven by switching means (21 to 26), wherein at least one coupling means (31 to 39) is provided, which magnetically couples at least one first phase (11) to at least one further phase (12, 14, 16), wherein at least two phases (11, 12) to be coupled are surrounded at least partially by the coupling means (31), wherein at least one insulating body (72) is provided, which on the upper or lower side thereof accommodates the phases (11 to 16) to be coupled and on which at least one fastening means (74, 76, 90) is provided, which interacts with at least one of the phases (11 to 16) for fastening purposes. Full Article