Abstract:
A marine handling craft and system is intended for use in deploying, inspecting and receiving vessels and payloads to and from locations on, under, over or near water and wet soils in potentially turbulent aquatic or atmospheric conditions. The marine handling craft may operate as a robot, or deployed from a crane or boom on a mother ship or other platform or helicopter so that it can transport and mate and dock at various locations, such as supply ships or autonomous marine vessels, at a stand off distance to limit potential harm to valuable assets. A sliding fastener and track are included on the marine handling craft so that it can be tethered and lifted by a single line or cable, and so can be manipulated by a single crane or helicopter. The utility of the handling craft is not limited to the transport of payloads and it may function as a stand-alone vessel for various remote sensing purposes. Smart communication between the marine handling craft and other vessels or other nodes in a distributed computer network facilitates simultaneous, hierarchical and multi-tasking control of the craft and permits verification and inspection of payloads, which might otherwise cause damage when proximate to more valuable assets.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a memory cell having an access transistor and an electric field programmable bi-stable element. The access transistor may be a (N-channel or P-channel) MOSFET transistor having a gate, source or drain region coupled to the electric field programmable bi-stable or multi-stable element (hereinafter collectively, “bi-stable element” unless expressly indicated otherwise). The access transistor facilitates selective and controllable programming and reading of the electric field programmable bi-stable element. Also disclosed is a plurality of memory cells, each having a unique, different and/or distinct electric field programmable bi-stable element and a common access transistor and a common access transistor. In yet another aspect, a differential memory cell having a plurality of memory cells configured to store complementary data states is disclosed. The differential memory cell includes first memory cell and second memory cell wherein the first memory cell maintains a complementary state relative to second memory cell. The first and second memory cells include a common access transistor and unique, different and/or distinct electric field programmable bi-stable element, or each includes an access transistor and an electric field programmable bi-stable element. Finally, a complementary memory cell having an N-channel type memory cell (an N-channel access transistor and an electric field programmable bi-stable element) and a P-channel type memory cell (a P-channel access transistor and an electric field programmable bi-stable element) is disclosed.
Abstract:
The disclosed system and method provide an administrative software application allowing a user to organize files into groups, create file packages from one or more file groups, place the file packages onto removable media, and use the installer software application residing on the removable media to select and install file packages onto handheld devices in the absence of a desktop or laptop computer. A method of installing file packages stored on a removable media onto a hand held device includes the steps of (a) automatically launching an installation application on the hand held device from a removable media, and (b) automatically installing at least one pre-selected file package onto the hand held device using the installation application.
Abstract:
A labeling head includes a printing unit and an applicator foot assembly for printing and applying labels onto a layup of material. The printing unit is integral to the labeling head and prints each label prior to applying the label to the layup. The applicator foot assembly transfers the printed label onto the layup. The labeling head of the present invention can be used either with a cutter, a spreader or as a standalone unit. The labeling head of the present invention prints and prepares labels while the cutter head cuts the part. Once the part is cut, the labeling head applies the prepared label onto the cut part. The labeling head also includes a layup height sensor allowing the labels to be applied to layup having varying heights.
Abstract:
This invention discloses an automated corn popping apparatus including a kettle, a support arrangement for supporting and operating the kettle, a display arrangement for enclosing the corn popping apparatus, a controller for automatically operating the corn popping apparatus, and a conduit system for introducing cooking oil into the kettle. In a preferred embodiment, the kettle includes a kettle and an agitator mechanism. A support arrangement includes a mechanism for rotating the kettle from a position for popping corn to a position for dumping corn into the display arrangement. Also, a shaft mechanism is used for raising and lowering the lid and rotating the agitator mechanism. The shaft mechanism is in fluid association with a source of cooking oil at one end of its length, and has apertures located near the other end of its length so as to provide a conduit for the supply of cooking oil directly into the kettle. The controller includes actuators for necessary mechanical movement, sensors to determine component positions, and a programmer to receive sensor signals and control actuators to achieve automatic corn popping.
Abstract:
This invention discloses an automated corn popping apparatus including a kettle assembly, a support arrangement for supporting and operating the kettle assembly, a display arrangement for enclosing the corn popping apparatus, and control means for automatically operating the corn popping apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the kettle assembly includes a cast metal popping kettle and an agitator mechanism supported by a base adapted to receive pivot shafts. The support arrangement includes a mechanism for rotating the kettle assembly from a position for popping corn to a position for dumping corn into the display arrangement and a mechanism for raising and lowering the lid and rotating the agitator mechanism. The control means includes actuators for necessary mechanical movement, sensors of component position, and programmable means to receive sensor signals and control actuators to achieve the automatic popping of popcorn.
Abstract:
A series of substantially horizontally disposed and extended chimes are mounted upon a bracket and positioned to interrupt the fall of rain adjacent a building. The impact of rain or other precipitation upon the chimes gives forth a pleasing sound which is soothing and in many cases soporific for the individuals within the building. The chime means may be of various shapes and arrangements and a transmission apparatus may be provided to conduct the sound of the chimes into the building structure, although the sound of the rain will normally be conducted through an open window or the like into the interior during the sleeping or resting periods of individuals within the building.
Abstract:
An optical undersea telecommunications system has a main cable (1) which branches (BU1) near a landfall to two separate stations. Each branch (71,81) supplies half the current of the main cable (1) for powering the regenerators. In the event of a fault in a branch (e.g. 81) caused by an anchor or fishing gear, the operations branch (71) regenerator (e.g 11) can supply the full current (I) via a zener diode power feed and bypass circuit and high voltage diodes (D1,D2) automatically prevent leakage of current back to the fault.