Techniques and devices for measuring polarization crosstalk in birefringence optical media including polarization maintaining fiber.

A recyclable ring binder apparatus comprises a ring metal incorporating a set of binder rings that are formed of a pair of ring halves. The ring metal can be firmly fastened to a spine section of a binder hardcover by utilizing a post and a small arched snap clamp with a tap. The tap of the snap clamp can be pressed around a neck of the post utilizing a quick release clipping mechanism. The snap clamp can be accessed with an index finger and slid away from the post to remove the ring metal from the hardcover. The ring metal, the hardcover, the snap clamp and the post can be quickly separated into their perspective categories due to the clipping mechanism. Hence, it retains conformance of all components of the ring binder apparatus for recycling without increasing development and production cost.

A servo processor for an optical disk drive is provided that includes: an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

A method of making a metal oxide nanoparticle comprising contacting an aqueous solution of a metal salt with an oxidant. The method is safe, environmentally benign, and uses readily available precursors. The size of the nanoparticles, which can be as small as 1 nm or smaller, can be controlled by selecting appropriate conditions. The method is compatible with biologically derived scaffolds, such as virus particles chosen to bind a desired material. The resulting nanoparticles can be porous and provide advantageous properties as a catalyst.

The present disclosure describes the manufacture and use of soft surfaces such as fabrics bearing surface-grafted antimicrobial polymers.

A process is disclosed for producing plastic materials by providing a biology based feedstock and reacting the biology based feedstock to form a feedstock capable of reaction to form the plastic material, wherein the plastic material is selected from polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

A molecule possessing a primary or secondary amino group and an additional functionality capable of providing a novel or improved property to a cellulose material has been permanently attached to the cellulose material in aqueous media using a water-soluble carbodiimide as the coupling agent/activator. One such molecule is 5-aminofluorescein (abbreviated as “A-fluo”) and one such cellulose material is a papermaking pulp. Papers made from a pulp furnish containing, for example, 0.01 wt. % of the “A-fluo”-attached pulp show an embedded marker feature authenticable upon UV or visible light excitation. The “A-fluo”-attached pulp can also be used for the marking and identification of a pulp furnish.

A mixture comprising a molecule of formula (I); in which A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6, which may be the same or different, are each N or —CH; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6, which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen or C1 to C12 alkoxy; X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6, which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen, C1 to C12 alkoxy or alkyl C1 to C12; and R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are each hydrogen, or each of R7 and R8, R9 and R10 and R11 and R12 may form a bond; and a molecule of formula (II); in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, which may be the same or different, are each alkyl or substituted (and/or chiral) alkyl C1 to C16, acyl C1 to C16, polyethyleneoxy, a flexible connection to a polymer backbone or part of a polymer backbone in homopolymers, copolymers or block copolymers; and B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6a, which may be the same or different, are each, hydrogen, alkyl C1 to C16, alkoxy C1 to C16, nitro, halogeno, cyano, amido, diazo or ester, e.g. alkyl C1 to C16 ester.

Thermoplastic composition and articles containing UV absorbers that protect the articles contents from harmful UV radiation are disclosed as well as methods for making the thermoplastic articles and methods for using the articles to contain and protect materials sensitive to UV radiation. The UV absorbers contain oxazolone and/or azine functional groups that absorb UV radiation and prevent its transmission into the article. Many of the compounds are novel compositions of matter. The generally clear thermoplastic articles of this disclosure are particularly useful for containing a variety of UV sensitive consumer products that would otherwise have to be packaged in opaque containers.

An apparatus for dehydrating a liquid sample of biological material has a microwave waveguide that is open to the atmosphere. It has a microwave generator, means for introducing a container of the material into the waveguide, means for evacuating the container, means for rotating the container and means for removing the container from the waveguide. It can include means for moving the container through the waveguide and for sealing it. In a dehydration method, a container of the liquid sample is put into the open waveguide, evacuated, rotated at high speed and microwaved. The container of dehydrated material is then removed from the waveguide. The apparatus and method are particularly suitable for dehydrating vaccines.

A movable device for injecting oxygen and other technical materials into an electric arc furnace includes a housing situated above a portion of a step of a crucible and equipped with a cooling coil, an injection lance of oxygen and other technical materials, a supporting and moving system of the lance between minimum and maximum range points of the liquid bath level contained therein, positioned in the housing, an opening situated in the housing and facing the inside of the crucible in which the lance is transferably guided, and a scraping member disposed between the opening and the lance.

Apparatus and process for heating and melting a material in a susceptor vessel are provided wherein phase synchronized ac voltage is supplied from a separate power source to each one of at least two induction coils in separate zones around the vessel. Power magnitude from each source to an induction coil is controlled by pulse width control of the source's output voltage. Output frequency from each source is either fixed or variable based upon the electrically conductive state of the material. Optional electromagnetic stirring is achieved by establishing a phase shift between the voltage outputs of the power supplies after the material in the susceptor vessel has melted.

Beamformer coefficients may include a plurality of sets of theoretical statistical data for theoretical signals. Each theoretical signal may have its own particular attributes. The statistical data may be used in computing beamformer coefficients for application by a beamformer to signals received at a device. Signals are received at an input of the device. A respective plurality of weights is determined, for the theoretical statistical data sets, based on an analysis of the extent to which the signals have the particular attributes of the theoretical signals. The theoretical are retrieved, and a statistical data set is calculated for the signals by performing a weighted sum of the theoretical statistical data sets using the determined respective plurality of weights. Beamformer coefficients are computed based on the calculated statistical data set for the signals, which are used by a beamformer to the signals for generating a beamformer output.

Audio signals are processed for use in a communication event. A data store may be queried to obtain an indication of an echo direction, which relates to a direction from which audio signals output from the audio output are likely to be received at a microphone array (plurality of microphones) of a device. Beamformer coefficients of an adaptive beamformer of the device are determined in dependence upon the received indication of the echo direction. Audio signals are received at the microphone array. The adaptive beamformer applies the determined beamformer coefficients to the received audio signals, thereby generating a beamformer output for use in the communication event. The beamformer coefficients are determined such that echo suppression is applied to audio signals received at the microphone array from the indicated echo direction.

An organic compound has the following chemical structure: wherein R is different from R*; R and R* are independently hydrogen, halogen, nitro or methoxyl; and R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl or a phenyl group. A quaternary data storage device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and the organic film layer sandwiched between the bottom electrode and the top electrode.

A preferred embodiment may generally be construed as providing a method for storing fissile material, such as spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and includes the steps of: providing a storage container configured to receive the fissile material therein; and applying a coating to a surface of the storage container. Preferably, the coating is formed, at least in part, of a neutron-absorbing material and is adapted to reduce neutron multiplication and/or provide a shielding of the fissile material received within the storage container. Systems also are provided.

Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments.

A system or method for inferring and selective display of visual and sound media content based on a pet(s)'s level of engagement or reactions to content displayed on any number of content display devices including, but not limited to, television screens, computer monitors, tablets, and cell phones and measured by a sensor. A content selection algorithm takes as input the sensor measurements and historical or pre-computed data to infer the pet(s)'s preference for content. A content modification algorithm interposes algorithmically computed shapes and sounds overlaid on top of the existing content to attract the attention of the pet(s) observing the display.

A method of providing information including providing a communication session of at least one of audio and video media and applying automatic recognition to media transferred on the communication session. An advertisement is selected by a processor, based on the automatic recognition and non-advertisement information is selected by the processor, responsive to the automatic recognition. The selected advertisements and the selected non-advertisement information, are presented during the communication session.

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

The present invention provides a method for enhancing an immune response in a mammal to facilitate the elimination of a chronic pathology. The method involves the removal of immune system inhibitors such as soluble TNF receptor from the circulation of the mammal, thus, enabling a more vigorous immune response to the pathogenic agent. The removal of immune system inhibitors is accomplished by contacting biological fluids of a mammal with one or more binding partner(s) such as TNFα muteins capable of binding to and, thus, depleting the targeted immune system inhibitor(s) from the biological fluids. Particularly useful in the invention is an absorbent matrix composed of an inert, biocompatible substrate joined covalently to a binding partner, such as a TNFα mutein, capable of specifically binding to a targeted immune system inhibitor such as soluble TNF receptor.

A slaughtered pig leg parts conveyor device is provided for conveying individual pig leg parts, wherein an individual pig leg part includes at least a portion of a pig leg and the pig foot. The conveyor device includes a track and one or more pig leg part carriers movable along said track, each carrier being adapted to carry an individual pig leg part. Each carrier has one pig foot retaining assembly adapted to engage on a single pig foot so as to retain the pig leg part in a position suspended from the carrier. The retaining assembly includes a pig foot aperture adapted to receive the pig foot.

A method is disclosed in a gaming and media system for quickly and easily creating and sending mail communications including pre-populated, or preformed, messages. Upon receipt of a communication, a recipient may also quickly and easily download a game discussed in the message.

The present invention provides a method of making a flexible foaming member from recycled material. The present invention relates to a production method to recycling wastes containing rubber, plastic and metal materials and pulverize them into scraps under normal temperatures, then roughly separate the various materials contained in the waste scraps into different layers based on the difference of specific gravity, and further take out the scraps of rubber and plastic materials with lower specific gravity from the waste scraps, then conduct multiple heating and pulverizations under different temperatures to produce composite-material scraps, and then using some composite-material scraps to mix flexible materials and foaming agents, then pressing the mixture into a plate-like foaming material, and conduct vulcanization and foam forming for the plates of foam material to become a elastic foam.

A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system includes a lever that is selectively operable in a joystick mode and a lever mode. In the lever mode, the lever is confined to pivoting about a horizontal axis to thereby input throttle and shift commands to the control system. In the joystick mode, the lever is freely pivotable in all directions away from a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis to thereby input throttle, shift, and directional commands to the control system.

Various aspects provide for structures and devices to protect against spurious electrical events (e.g., electrostatic discharge). Some embodiments incorporate a voltage switchable dielectric material (VSDM) bridging a gap between two conductive pads. Normally insulating, the VSDM may conduct current from one pad to the other during a spurious electrical event (e.g., shunting current to ground). Some aspects include gaps having a gap width that is greater than 50% of a spacing between electrical leads connected to the pads. Some devices include single layers of VSDM. Some devices include multiple layers of VSDM. Various devices may be designed to increase a ratio of active volume (of VSDM) to inactive volume.

A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity.

A signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.

An inductive power outlet for providing power to an electric load via an inductive power receiver includes at least one primary inductive coil wired to a power supply via a driver configured to provide a driving voltage across the primary inductive coil such that a secondary voltage is induced in a secondary inductive coil associated with the inductive power receiver. The driver may include a controller configured to receive feedback control signals from the inductive power receiver indicating if more or less power is required. The controller may be further configured to adjust the driving voltage according to the control signals.

Disclosed is a method for the monitoring of a cabin region of a transport system located outside a field of view, wherein at least one light beam is emitted, passing through the cabin region in the longitudinal direction, and in the event of a disturbance of the at least one light beam path a message is generated. A monitoring device is also provided, with at least one emitter unit for purposes of emitting at least one light beam, with at least one receiver unit for purposes of receiving the emitted light beam, and with at least one messaging unit for purposes of generating a message in the event of a disturbance of the at least one light beam path; also disclosed is an aircraft cabin with at least one such monitoring system.

A device for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue. The device includes a fastener push rod including a first portion, a second portion and a force limiting mechanism operably coupled between the first portion and the second portion. A fastener is carried by the second portion of the fastener push rod. The force limiting mechanism transmits longitudinal movement of the first portion to the second portion while the forces applied to the fastener by the fastener push rod are less than a predetermined value such that longitudinal movement of the first portion of the fastener push rod causes substantially equivalent longitudinal movement of the second portion. The force limiting mechanism allows relative longitudinal motion between the first and second portions while the forces applied to the fastener are equal to or greater than the predetermined value such that the application of undue forces to the fastener is prevented.

Volatile liquid precursors are provided for use in the formation of alkali metal-containing materials. The compound includes an alkali metal and an amide ligand and is a liquid at a temperature of less than about 70° C.

Sliding element for seals includes 25 to 75 weight % carbonaceous impalpable powdery aggregate of non-graphitizing carbon and/or graphitizing carbon and 20 to 50 weight % synthetic resin as binder. The sliding element is blended with the range of 5 to 25 weight % carbonaceous carbon fibers without surface treatment and inside the carbon matrix, the carbon fibers are randomly scattered.

Implementing a layered hyperbolic metamaterial in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to improve thermal conductivity and thermal dissipation thereby stabilizing optical performance. Improvement in the thermal management and power is expected by replacing the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors in the VCSEL. The layered metamaterial structure performs the dual function of the DBR and the heat spreader at the same time.

In a driving circuit, one output circuit has a scanning signal line, a first transistor which controls electrical connection between the scanning signal line and a clock signal line which has a gate connected to a first node, the first node which is at an active potential in a first time period including a time period during which the active potential is output to the scanning signal line, a second transistor which electrically connects the first node and an inactive signal line which has a potential to open the transistor in a second time period other than the first time period, and the second transistor has a gate connected to a second node, wherein the second node has two kinds of timings to be charged for retaining the active potential.

An oscillator module includes a first MOS transistor and a capacitor. The capacitor is coupled between a gate and source of the first MOS transistor. The drain of the first MOS transistor receives a first bias current and generates an oscillating output signal. A switching circuit operates in response to the oscillating output signal to selective charge and discharge the capacitor. A current sourcing circuit is configured to generate the bias current. The current sourcing circuit includes a second MOS transistor which has an identical layout to the first MOS transistor and receives a second bias current. A resistor is coupled between a gate and source of the second MOS transistor. The current sourcing circuit further includes a current mirror having an input configured to receive a reference current passing through the resistor and generate the first and second bias currents.

The invention is directed to a single-step method for rapidly and efficiently preparing protein-polymer conjugates, including an insulin-polymer conjugate. According to the method of the present invention, a protein and hydrophilic polymer are contacted in the presence of at least one organic solvent and at least one metal chelator, under conditions that promote the formation of a conjugate of the protein and polymer. Thus, the invention is directed to the site-specific modification of selected proteins, such as insulin, with poly(ethylene glycol) at residue PheB1. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation for encapsulating the conjugate in a biodegradable polymer.

A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a cask holding high level radioactive materials comprising: a tubular shell extending from an open bottom end to an open top end, the tubular shell having an inner surface that forms a cavity about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of primary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; a plurality of secondary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; and an annular seal coupled to the tubular shell and extending from the inner surface of the tubular shell; wherein the secondary apertures are located at an axial height above the annular seal and the primary apertures are located at an axial height below the annular seal.

Aspects of the invention relate to several methods to deposit and regenerate target materials in neutron generators and similar nuclear reaction devices. In situ deposition and regeneration of a target material reduces tube degradation of the nuclear reaction device and covers impurities on the surface of the target material at the target location. Further aspects of the invention include a method of designing a target to generate neutrons at a high efficiency rate and at a selected neutron energy from a neutron energy spectrum.

Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials.

A fleet management system for managing a fleet of encoded information reading (EIR) terminals can comprise one or more computers, a fleet management software module, and a payment processing software module in communication with the fleet management software module. The fleet management software module can be configured, responsive to receiving a customer initiated request, to generate an unlocking message upon processing a payment by the payment processing software module. The unlocking message can be provided by a bar code to be read by an EIR terminal, or by a bit stream to be transferred to an EIR terminal via network. Each EIR terminal can be configured to perform not more than a pre-defined number of EIR operations responsive to receiving the unlocking message.

In one example implementation, the present disclosure provides a direct current (DC) restoration circuit for restoring the DC component of a synchronization signal provided over an alternating current (AC) coupled link from a transmitting circuit to a receiving circuit. During a period of inactivity in the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal may experience a drift towards the common mode, and may affect the ability for the synchronization signal to properly trigger the receiving circuit. The DC restoration circuit is configured to hold the synchronization signal steady during the period of inactivity, and allow the AC component of the synchronization signal pass through to the receiving circuit during the period of activity to alleviate the problem of baseline drift in the synchronization signal.

A spreading device for confined application of grain type materials along a well-defined path on a road from a conveyor of a storing tank mounted on a moving vehicle includes a chute member mounted thereon that receives the materials from the conveyor and substantially drops them generally vertically under gravity on the road along the path in proximity and in front of a roller. The latter stops the materials relative to the road and confines, or packs, them on the road. The spreading device is adapted to be mounted on either side of the vehicle, in line with its wheels.

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes: preparing a lower mother substrate, where lower cells, each including a thin film transistor, are provided on the lower mother substrate, and a lower alignment layer is disposed on the lower cells; preparing an upper mother substrate, where upper cells corresponding to the lower cells are provided on the upper mother substrate, and an upper alignment layer is disposed on the upper cells; providing a mother substrate assembly by providing a liquid crystal mixture layer between the lower and upper mother substrates and combining the lower and upper mother substrates; providing a pretilt of the liquid crystals by applying a voltage to a voltage application unit of the lower mother substrate; and curing an alignment supporting agents in the liquid crystal mixture layer or the lower and upper alignment layers by irradiating light to a side of the mother substrate assembly.

Provided are a method for post-treatment of a carbonaceous material using dehydrocyclization, a carbonaceous material post-treated by the method, and a polymer composite material including the carbonaceous material. More particularly, provided are a method for post-treatment of a carbonaceous material using dehydrocyclization, including subjecting the carbonaceous material to dehydrocyclization at room temperature to heal structural defects in the carbonaceous material, while increasing the effective conjugated length of the carbonaceous material to improve the electrical conductivity thereof, as well as a carbonaceous material post-treated by the method and a polymer composite material including the carbonaceous material.

A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with refrigerator components housed in a space adjacent the top of the fresh food compartment between a false ceiling and the top wall of the compartment. The top wall includes a stepped portion formed in the liner forming the compartment. The stepped portion is positioned near the top and front of the compartment, and it includes a section that is lower than the remainder of the top wall. The stepped portion includes a rear facing face in the interior of the compartment, and the false ceiling is positioned between the rear facing face and the back wall. The ceiling extends horizontal from the rear wall before angling upward to abut the face of the stepped portion. The false ceiling may also contain apertures to provide access to the components housed between the ceiling and the top wall.

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.

The present invention relates to a wireless transmission system for signals intended more specifically for a domestic environment. It includes a central terminal comprising at least m transmission channels and n directive transmission antennas intended to transmit first signals at least one client terminal having at least one reception channel connected to a reception antenna in order to receive the first signals said central terminal and said client terminal communicating in a transmission channel having a predetermined frequency band, and an estimation device able to generate an item of information representative of the reception quality of first signals in at least one point of a predetermined geographic zone associated with the client terminal and a return channel in order to transmit said at least one item of information to the control means of the central terminal.

The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus that include a novel way of automatically assigning materials to 3D CAD models. A predefined material template specifies that a particular part or material name is assigned to a particular material such that all instances of the particular part name are assigned or modified automatically by the material template. By having a consistent naming convention for the parts in the CAD file, this material assignment can be performed automatically when the CAD file is imported or viewed.

A de-noise circuit and a de-noise method for differential signals and a chip for receiving differential signals are provided. The de-noise circuit includes a filter and a register. Both the filter and the register are disposed in the chip. The chip receives a differential signal through a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The filter is coupled between the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the chip. The filter filters out noises in the differential signal. The filter includes at least one filter unit. Each filter unit has at least one resistance value or at least one capacitance value. The register is coupled to the filter. The register receives and stores a control value. The register controls the resistance value or the capacitance value of at least one of the filter units based on the control value.