Abstract:
Apparatus with a multi-axis mechanism to perform, say, measurements or tests, has at least one pair of temperature detectors individually for each of selected members of the mechanism, each pair of temperature detectors being arranged to sense temperature differences transversely across the associated member. The required positions of the temperature detectors are predetermined from a preliminary examination of the mechanism, so that the extent and direction of each predetermined aspect of thermal distortion within the mechanism, can be computed from simultaneously detected transverse temperature differences, employing algorithms devised as a result of the preliminary examination of the mechanism. Compensation for corresponding selected errors in the measurements or tests can be calculated from the computed extent and direction of each of the predetermined aspects of thermal distortion within the mechanism.
Abstract:
A distributed demand assigned multiple access control scheme for use in connection with a processing satellite communications system, where multiple users are assigned to a common transmission resource as part of a sharing set. The control scheme of the invention makes use of a reservation procedure by transmitting set addressed reservation messages in a contentious control flow to reserve data transfer time in a non-contentious main flow. Each user of the sharing set is synchronized to the next available uplink time slot available to transmit data in the main flow. If a transmitted reservation message is returned in the satellite downlink, the terminal knows that all of the users of the set received the message. That reserved time interval in the main flow Is now owned by that user, and each user in the shared set updates its next available uplink time slot based on the reserved time.
Abstract:
A spindle (60) for a machine tool comprising a rear spindle portion (62) and a forward spindle portion (64) with each of the rear spindle portion and the forward spindle portion being rotatable about the same axis relative to one another. The inventive spindle includes one or more spring elements (68) extending between the rear spindle portion and the forward spindle portion whereby with the forward spindle portion and the rear spindle portion rotating at a predetermined amount and with the rotation of the forward spindle portion being constrained at that amount, an additional rotation applied to the rear spindle portion results in a deflection of the springs thereby effecting a torque between the forward and the rear spindle portions. The present invention also includes a control method which has as its objective to control the position of, not the torque applied to, one of the spindles, usually the gear member spindle. In this method, the gear member spindle position is controlled relative to the pinion member spindle position by a computer numerical control (CNC). As the pinion member is turned at some speed, the gear member is kept in coordination with the pinion (according to their ratio) by the CNC control. The gear member spindle can be commanded to include additional rotational components which, in effect, advance or retard the gear rotation relative to the pinion.
Abstract:
A directory service allows a user to receive email messages from senders without requiring the user to reveal his/her email address. The directory service maintains users' email addresses but allows users to restrict the display of their email addresses. The directory service can cause a message to be sent from a sender to a recipient without revealing the recipient's email address.
Abstract:
A machine is disclosed having novel air bearings for supporting one machine part for translational movement on another part in a first direction X. Each bearing takes the form of a track (5A,14,16) on one of the parts providing concave part-cylindrical bearing surfaces (5A,14A,16A) and pads 25 on the other part providing confronting convex part-cylindrical bearing surfaces 25A. The arc lengths of the part-cylindrical bearing surfaces are such as to provide restraint against relative movements between the machine parts in at least one sense of both of the two directions (Y,Z) orthogonal to the direction (X) of the translational movement. The advantages are relative cheapness of manufacture compared to vee-bearings and a capability of the bearings to self-align under load.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for airplane deployment over water of survival kit apparatus is provided. A pair of deflated, inflatable rafts are contained in a rigid container shell having a removable tail cone. A stabilizer drogue may be used to longitudinally stabilize the container prior to tail cone release and assist with the tail cone removal after release. The tail cone is mechanically released and removed from the container shell at a predetermined time after deployment from an aircraft, thereby pemitting the container shell contents to be removed. The life rafts are contained in the container shell so that one life raft having associated with it an aerodynamic brake is released after the tail cone has been removed, with the container and second life raft continuing their trajectory downwards. The rope joining the two life rafts is continuously payed out as the first left raft falls to the water and the container with the second life raft therein continues its trajectory. The second life raft is removed from the container shell mechanically after the container shell contacts the surface of the water. The apparatus and method of the invention results in the pair of inflated rope-joined life rafts being deployed on the water surface at spaced locations.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide an interface for simultaneously inputting multiple data parameters for a software application. Generally, a single user input made using the input interface results in multiple data parameters being received by the application. In one embodiment, the input interface may be defined with a plurality of dimensional nodes, where each dimensional node corresponds to a dimension of input that may be specified for the software application using the input interface.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of automatically identifying and characterizing spectral peaks of a spectrum generated by an analytical apparatus and reporting information relating to the spectral peaks to a user, comprising the steps of receiving the spectrum generated by the analytical apparatus; automatically subtracting a baseline from the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum; automatically detecting and characterizing the spectral peaks in the baseline-corrected spectrum; and reporting at least one item of information relating to each detected and characterized spectral peak to a user. In embodiments, baseline model curve parameters or peak model curve parameters are neither input by nor exposed to the user prior to the reporting step.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for automatically analyzing a chromatography/mass spectrometry spectrum characterized by at least a time-related variable, a mass-related variable and an ion-abundance-related variable, comprising the steps of: receiving a portion of the spectrum from a chromatography/mass spectrometry apparatus while the chromatography/mass spectrometry apparatus is concurrently generating another portion of the spectrum; automatically subtracting a baseline from the portion of the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum portion; automatically determining if at least one spectral peak occurs in the baseline-corrected spectrum portion; and reporting information relating at least to the number of peaks automatically determined in the portion of the chromatography/mass spectrometry spectrum.