Abstract:
A compressor system (20, 20′, 20″) comprises a motion amplifier (22) which acts through a compressor head or piston (46) to compress fluid in a variable compression chamber (52). The motion amplifier (22) comprises a piezoelectric diaphragm (30) and drive electronics (26) for applying a drive signal to the piezoelectric diaphragm. The drive signal is generated to maintain the motion amplifier resonant at a predetermined frequency. The motion amplifier preferably comprises (in addition to the piezoelectric diaphragm) a reaction mass (34) connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm; a reacted mass (40) connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm; and, a reacted mass spring (50, 270) for resiliently carrying the reacted mass. The structure of the motion amplifier carried by the reacted mass spring (e.g., the piezoelectric diaphragm, the reaction mass, and the reacted mass) has a resonant frequency f2. The resonant frequency f2 is related to a spring constant K2 of the reacted mass spring and a sum of masses of the reaction mass and the reacted mass. Preferably the predetermined frequency is f2, which means that the drive signal is generated to maintain the motion amplifier resonant at a frequency f2, e.g., the drive signal is generated to urge the motion amplifier to the frequency f2 as its operational frequency. Driving the motion amplifier (22) at the frequency f2 achieves peak amplitude displacement of the motion amplifier, and thus peak displacement of the compressor head acting in the compression chamber.
Abstract:
A golf club head has a face insert the effective resiliency of which varies across a striking surface on a front face of the club head. The face insert, which is disposed in a cavity formed in the club head, is supported from beneath by a substrate which is formed of one or more materials to form a low resiliency region near a central of the cavity and a high resiliency region near heel and toe regions of the cavity. By varying the resiliency of the substrate behind the face insert, the effective resiliency, which is a composite of the face insert and the substrate, may be manipulated so that the effective coefficient of restitution between the club head and a golf ball may be made uniform across the entire front face.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for preparing media content for identification are disclosed. An example method includes receiving compressed media content, decompressing the payload of the compressed media content, generating a signature of the decompressed payload, discarding the decompressed payload, embedding a code in the compressed media content, and storing the code and the signature in a database for later use in identifying presentation of the media content at a presentation site.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for determining displacement of a surface member coupled to a user interface mechanism, for example a joystick handle, using a fixed optical motion sensor. Using the displacement of the surface member, the method, and apparatus may determine an absolute position of the surface member, recalibrating a center point upon detecting a difference in light reflection of the center point.
Abstract:
The present invention encompasses, in part, a method and apparatus for lens casting in which two molds, preferably formed of plastic, are interconnected or joined together via a ring to form a mold cavity having substantially the same dimensions of the lens to be formed therein. The invention is further directed to compositions and methods used in lens casting. In a first implementation the invention includes a mold having a ring having an interior periphery; a front mold formed of a plastic and having a lens-forming surface, an edge circumscribing the lens-forming surface that is sized to be complementarily received within a portion of the interior periphery of the ring, and a base having dimensions greater than the interior periphery; and a rear mold formed of a plastic and having a lens-forming surface.
Abstract:
Methods of treating a subject with a traumatic central nervous system injury, more particularly, a traumatic brain injury, are provided. The methods comprise a therapy comprising a constant or a two-level dosing regime of progesterone. In one method, a subject in need thereof is administered at least one cycle of therapy, wherein the cycle of therapy comprises administering a therapeutically effective two-level intravenous dosing regime of progesterone. The two-level dosing regime comprises a first time period, wherein a higher hourly dose of progesterone is administered to the subject, followed by a second time period, wherein a lower hourly dose of progesterone is administered to the subject.
Abstract:
In one example, a system for an engine having an intake system and an exhaust system is described. The system comprises: an airflow sensor coupled to the intake system; an air pump having at least an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having a first coupling to the intake system downstream of said airflow sensor, said outlet side having a second coupling to the exhaust system; and a controller coupled to the engine, said controller, during operation, identifying whether degradation has occurred to at least one of said first and second couplings, and providing an indication of said identified degradation. Various other examples are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention is a polymeric composition comprising a polymer, a cathodic corrosion inhibitor, and an acidic corrosive reagent. The polymeric composition may further comprise a blowing agent and/or a second corrosion inhibitor. The present invention specifically also includes moisture-crosslinkable polymeric compositions. The moisture-crosslinkable compositions can be used as a coating and applied over a wire or a cable.
Abstract:
A golf club head and a method of tuning the golf club head. The golf club head includes a body having a front surface, a back surface, a heel end, a toe end, a sole extending between the lower portions of the heel and the toe ends, a top portion extending between the upper portions of the heel and toe ends, and a cavity. One or more magnets are mounted in the cavity such that their distance into the cavity can be adjusted. A detachable face plate having one or more magnets attached to a back surface of the detachable face plate is slidably mated with guides extending from the body. At least two of the magnets are positioned such that the north pole of the magnet in the cavity faces the north pole of a magnet attached to the back surface of the detachable face plate. A repulsive force between the north poles pushes the detachable face plate away from the body and into a stop coupled to the body. The strength of the repulsive force is adjusted by the distance between the magnets to provide a golfer with the desired face plate stiffness.
Abstract:
The present invention is a moisture crosslinkable polymeric composition comprising a siloxane-functional polyolefin polymer and a thermally-treated carbon black. The invention also includes a coating prepared from the moisture crosslinkable polymeric composition as well as a wire-and-cable construction made by applying the coating over a wire or a cable.