An electronic device system can include an electronic device. The electronic device can include a receptacle, and a device logic driving status unit configured to generate a status signal indicating activity of the electronic device, and a communications cable. The communications cable can include a first plug configured to connect to the receptacle and receive the status signal, wherein the first plug includes a status indicator configured to indicate activity of the electronic device based on the status signal.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) fabricated by sintering a mixture including diamond particles and a selected amount of graphite particles, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) having a PCD table comprising such PCD, and methods of fabricating such PCD and PDCs. In an embodiment, a method includes providing a mixture including graphite particles present in an amount of about 0.1 weight percent (“wt %”) to about 20 wt % and diamond particles. The method further includes subjecting the mixture to a high-pressure/high-temperature process sufficient to form PCD.

An abrasive article including a bonded abrasive having a body formed of abrasive grains contained within a bond material, wherein the body grinds a superabrasive workpiece having an average Vickers hardness of at least about 5 GPa at an average specific grinding energy (SGE) of not greater than about 350 J/mm3, at a material removal rate of at least about 8 mm3/sec, and wherein grinding is a centerless grinding operation.

A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.

A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave at a given transmission period. The sensor is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission wave and the reflected wave, extract asynchronously from the transmission period a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate information related to the target object based on the processing signal.

The present invention relates to a system for determining a distance, a transponder, a position detection apparatus, and a method therefor. The method for determining a distance comprises providing a position detection apparatus (101), and a transponder (105). The method further comprises generating (201) a pseudo number sequence, transmitting (202) the pseudo number sequence, receiving (203) the pseudo number sequence; modulate (204) the received pseudo number sequence by means of delaying the recieved pseudo number sequence a predetermined number of clock cycles from a group of at least two predetermined number of clock cycles. The method further comprises transmitting (205) the modulated pseudo number sequence, recieving (206) the modulated pseudo number sequence, detecting (207) a path time of the pseudo number sequence, by means of delaying and correlating the generated pseudo number sequence with the received modulated pseudo number sequence, wherein the delay time corresponds to the path time, The method further comprises detecting (208) a clock correction factor for the transponder (105) using the received modulated pseudo number sequence, calculating (209) a flight time of the pseudo number sequence between the position detection apparatus and the transponder by means of the path time, the clock correction factor, and the predetermined number of clock cycles of the transponder, and calculating (210) the distance between said position detection apparatus and said transponder by means of the flight time.

A system for use in a vehicle determining the type of terrain ahead of the vehicle, the system comprising; a processor configured to receive sensor output data from a plurality of vehicle-mounted sensors, including at least one radar sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, each for receiving a reflected signal from the terrain ahead of the vehicle; and a data memory configured to store pre-determined data relating sensor output data, for the or each acoustic sensor and the or each radar sensor, to a terrain type; wherein the processor is configured to compare the sensor output data with the pre-determined data to determine an indication of the terrain type corresponding to the sensor output data.

A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus includes transmission antenna members and a transmitting section provided with an oscillator and phase shifters, a controller controlling the phase shifter, a reception antenna member, and a receiving section. The oscillator generates radio waves for the radar waves transmitted from the transmission antenna. Each phase shifters changes a phase of the radio waves generated and supplies the phase-shifted radio waves to a corresponding one of the transmission antenna members. The reception antenna member receives reflected waves of the radar waves. The receiving section generates a reception signal including the reflected waves. For the noise reduction process, the controller controls the phase control, so that, of the received signals generated at the receiving section, a first leak component which is from reflected waves from objects other than a target object is subtracted from a second leak component leaking from the transmitting section to the receiving section.

There is provided a method for positioning of user equipment. The method for positioning of user equipment, includes: receiving, by the user equipment, a signal from an external antenna, the signal being radiated in a cyclic pattern; measuring, by the user equipment, strength of the received signal, characterizing, by the user equipment, the measured strength to form a signal pattern over a time period; and determining a position of the user equipment based on the signal pattern.

A radar apparatus generates a strength distribution indicating a correspondence relationship between a relative speed parameter related to an observation point relative speed and a reflection strength parameter related to reflection strength of radar waves reflected at an observation point, for a plurality of observation points. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter increases from a center relative speed parameter that is the relative speed parameter corresponding to a peak in the reflection strength, the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter decreases from the center relative speed parameter, and a distribution of the reflection strength parameter is symmetrical with the center relative speed parameter at the center.

A snow quality measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of reflectors, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and a measuring device. The plurality of reflectors are respectively arranged at a plurality of prescribed heights above the ground. The transmitter emits radio waves towards the plurality of reflectors, and the receiver receives the reflected waves of the radio waves from the plurality of reflectors. The measuring device measures snow quality of snow on the ground at the prescribed plurality of heights based on the respective reflected waves to from the plurality of reflectors as received by the receiver.

In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.

A first method includes receiving a first reflected radar signal from a target in a first field of view and receiving a second reflected radar signal from a target in a second field of view offset from the first field of view by a predetermined distance; transforming the first and second reflected radar signals to obtain first and second sets of frequency coefficients, from which a frequency-dependent phase difference is obtained; and calculating a time-delay from the slope of the frequency dependence. A second method includes obtaining summed difference values between the first and second radar responses, where each of the summed difference values corresponds to different time shifts between the first and second radar response, and deriving from the summed difference values a time-delay associated with the target's motion from the first field of view to the second field of view. A third method combines the time-delays or associated speeds obtained from independent estimators.

A blind spot detection system for a motorcycle, which includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a vehicle in at least one blind spot. The accelerometer detects a gravity force vector, and the gyroscope detects the position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector such that a lean angle of the motorcycle is calculated. The detection device is then configured to maintain the same position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector and compensate for the position of the motorcycle if the lean angle is greater or less than 90°, such that the detection device is able to detect the presence of the vehicle in the at least one blind spot, independent of the lean angle of the motorcycle.

A radar apparatus detects an observation point distance and an observation point azimuth. In addition, the radar apparatus calculates an observation point lateral position and an observation point vertical position based on the observation point distance and the observation point azimuth. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when a number of observation points included within a side determination range is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling vehicle determination count, based on the observation point lateral position and the observation point vertical position. The side determination range is set so as to include a passing determination line so as to extend in a direction at 90 degrees relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle.

A portable terminal includes a GPS unit configured to receive a GPS signal, a GPS processing section configured to detect GPS accuracy at an interval and detect the position of a vehicle on the basis of the GPS signal received by the GPS unit, and an information processing section configured to detect entrance timing, which is timing when the GPS accuracy is detected when the vehicle is located at an entrance point of a multi-storey parking structure, on the basis of transition of the GPS accuracy detected by the GPS processing section at the interval.

A terminal for identifying a location of a user includes a transmitter configured to transmit data, a receiver configured to receive the data, a sensor configured to sense at least one piece of context information, and a controller configured to determine a priority order of area information, service set identifier (SSID) information, global positioning system (GPS) signal information, and the context information corresponding to each location, identify the location based on the priority order, and determine the priority order of the SSID information and the GPS signal information in response to retrieving a number of SSIDs.

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting a target object by a radar device for a vehicle. The method includes recognizing the situation that causes the deterioration in the function of a radar, and preventing the performance from deterioration through a signal processing technology. The apparatus includes: a signal transmitting unit that transmits a transmission signal for detecting a target object; a signal receiving unit that receives a reception signal generated by a reflection of the transmission signal; a signal analyzing unit that calculates frequency spectrum information of the reception signal, and extracts periodicity information for determining a periodicity of the frequency spectrum information; a determining unit that determines whether a clutter structure exists; and a target detecting unit that detects a target object by deleting a peak value component of the periodicity information when it is determined that the clutter structure exists.

A vehicle cooperative object positioning optimization method and comprises steps of: receiving an information package by the local vehicle and the information package having a vehicle original coordinate and at least one object original coordinate provided by a neighbor vehicle respectively including different positioning accuracies; performing a time delay compensation for the vehicle original coordinate and the object original coordinate to acquire a vehicle coordinate and an object coordinate of the neighbor vehicle respectively; performing an optimizing procedure to optimize the vehicle coordinate and the object coordinate respectively so as to obtain the vehicle optimized coordinate and the object optimized coordinate. Therefore, the vehicle optimized coordinate and the object optimized coordinate include higher accuracy than the coordinate information detected by the GPS receiver so as to determine precisely a distribution of the environmental objects and enhance driving safety.

An irrigation device comprising a moisture responsive barrier is provided. At least a portion of the barrier has perforations, at least some of the perforations are associated with a water swellable material. The perforations are configured to open as the water swellable material loses moisture and dries out and are configured to close as said water swellable material is exposed to and absorbs water, such as during a watering step. According to another aspect the irrigation method includes the steps of positioning a perforated barrier between a source of irrigation water and an area to be irrigated, wherein the perforations are associated with a water swellable material; exposing the water swellable material to water to cause the water swellable material to swell to close the perforations; and permitting the water swellable material to dry, to open the perforations, whereby the opening and closing of the perforations regulates the amount of irrigation water being applied across the barrier in the irrigation method.

The present invention discloses an apparatus to simplify an air supply path without damaging the merit of conventional culture apparatus. The apparatus is a culture apparatus which includes a row of a plurality of box-shaped containers for plant cultivation, and a row of lower stage containers arranged in the lower portion of the row, holding the upper stage container spaced as high as the height after growth of the plants to be cultivated. In each container, a support, a blocking film stretched between front and rear, right and left supports of the container are provided. In the one end of the rows of the containers, an air conditioner is arranged, and in another end, a turnaround chamber is provided.

A system for growing plants without soil uses removable V-shaped baskets to support plants in a tiered, self-contained unit. Nutrient enriched water is sprayed on the plant roots. The roots are held by perforations in the elongated V-shaped basket and a plant blanket. The unit is multilevel and can be set over an aquarium. The growing shelf can have a worm bag in order to add natural nutrients. Baskets can be comprised of a pair of identical halves that can be readily mutually coupled. Coupling mechanisms can include those that snap together and those providing for a pivoting coupling.

There is provided a greenhouse system. An exemplary greenhouse system comprises at least one plant culture. At least part of a glazing of the greenhouse system comprises at least one functional layer that is adapted to the plant culture.

The invention refers to a greenhouse screen comprising strips of film material that are interconnected by a yarn system by means of hosiery, knitting, warp-knitting or weaving process to form a continuous product. At least some of the strips comprise a film material in the form of a multilayer polyester film having a thickness less than 60 μm and comprising at least two layers, wherein at least one layer is white and at least one layer is black, the at least one white layer comprises polyester and a white pigment in an amount between 5 and 50 weight-% based on the total weight of the white layer, and the at least one black layer comprises polyester and a black opacifying agent.

The invention provides a nontoxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant.

An apparatus is disclosed which may be used to grow plants in a chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber includes an artificial light source, a plurality of plant supports, a supporting structure configured to rotate the plant supports between two positions, the first position being closer to the artificial light source than the second, and a divider separating the chamber into a light region containing the artificial light source and one of the plant supports in the first position and a dark region containing the other plant support in the second position, wherein the divider is moveable between a first divider position in which the divider prevents movement of the plant supports and a second divider position in which the divider does not prevent movement of the plant supports. Methods of growing plants in a chamber on a moveable member are also disclosed.

A plant air purifying enclosure, or “PAPE,” contained within an unconditioned space, either within or outside a building, containing therein a plant air purifier, which is used to purify air using plants and microbes growing therein. The PAPE enclosure itself receives poor indoor quality air from within structure where the PAPE is located or from a structure close by along with thermal energy which keeps the plant air purifier enclosure at a suitable temperature for the plants and air cleaning microbes within the air purifier. Poor air enters the enclosure, is purified by the plants and microbes, and returns in purified form back to the habitable space from which it was taken. This lowers the amount of outside air needed for ventilation purposes and so lessens a building's overall energy consumption while providing efficiently for naturally purified air. Fundamentally, the object of this invention is to specify devices, systems and methods to house/enclose plant purifiers in such a way that they can readily be deployed on a wide scale.

An adjustable water retention device for a plant pot has a plant container nesting in a second outer pot, with a facilitated flow of water communicating between the second outer pot and the plant container, wherein the second outer pot rests on a base.

Method and apparatus for growing plants in vertical stacks by providing vertically stacked, interconnected pairs of plant platforms and light trays carrying growth promoting light sources. Each light tray is suspended below the underside of the next above plant platform. The stack is vertically raised in succession whereby the plant platforms are suspended and vertically spaced from each other. Thereafter, plants are placed between suspended platforms under the light trays which are regulating during periods of plant growth and non-growth.

A plant cultivation apparatus including: a guide rail disposed above a cultivation bed and extending along the length direction of the cultivation bed; a movable unit configured to move along the guide rail; an arm unit having a first end that is coupled to the movable unit, and a second end that is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward the cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the second end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate the cultivation bed with a set amount of UV light.

The present invention relates to substituted cellulose acetates and methods of use thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a coating having a substituted cellulose acetate having a polar substituent that has an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a nonmetal selected from the group of sulfur, phosphorus, and boron; wherein the nonmetal is present in at least about 0.01% by weight of the substituted cellulose acetate.

A composition comprising peat moss and one or more alkoxylates selected from the group consisting of alcohol alkoxylates and alkylphenol alkoxylates and, optionally, one or more polysaccharides, for example guars and/or guar derivatives. A synergistic effect of a combination of the alkoxylates and the polysaccharides was discovered. A method of preparing the peat moss composition and a method of using it are also disclosed.

The invention provides a non-toxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant.

To provide a spout apparatus whereby expansion and deformation of the inner wall surface of the vortex generating portion such that a desired Karman vortex cannot be generated are prevented, even when the port portion is formed of an elastically deformable soft member. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water with reciprocal motion, having a spout apparatus body and a vortex generating passage; whereby the oscillating element has a supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage, and the spout port passage is formed by an elastically deformable soft member, and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate and deform the spout port passage, and the vortex generating passage is formed so as not to expand and deform even if internal pressure rises due to the supply of hot or cold water from the supply passage.

A fluid permeable anodic oxide film includes a plurality of regularly-disposed pores formed by anodizing metal and a plurality of permeation holes having an inner width larger than an inner width of the pores and extending through the fluid permeable anodic oxide film. Also provided is a fluid permeable body which makes use of the fluid permeable anodic oxide film.

A thrust reverser system is provided with an axial centerline. This thrust reverser system includes a first translating element, a second translating element and an actuator mechanism. The actuator mechanism is attached to the first translating element and the second translating element. The actuator mechanism is configured to translate the first translating element along the axial centerline at a first rate. The actuator mechanism is configured to translate the second translating element along the axial centerline at a second rate, which may he different than the first rate.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

A valve body has a piston that slides within the body through four successive positions. The piston has a head, and an upper and lower skirt, with a port in the upper skirt. In the first position, a bias force urges the piston to the first of four positions, in which the piston port is closed. In a second position, the piston port aligns with a low pressure port in the valve body, when a low pressure supply of water is connected. In a third position, greater pressure again closes the piston port. In a fourth position, at a still greater pressure, the piston port aligns with a high pressure port in the valve body. The bias force or a location of the piston port can be varied for valves along a supply line, whereby varying supply pressure opens different valves, thereby enabling addressing of valves according to supply pressure.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

A diffusion device for atomizing liquids includes a floating magnet disposed within a track inside at least one package with liquid for the atomizing diffusion device, wherein as a liquid level inside the package changes, the floating magnet moves substantially vertically along the track, a plurality of Hall effect sensors or Hall effect switches disposed outside the liquid at various positions, the Hall effect sensors or Hall effect switches each generating an output voltage in response to a magnetic field of the floating magnet, and a processor that receives the output voltages and fits them to a model that includes the floating magnet position with respect to various sets of output voltages to determine a position of the floating magnet with respect to the Hall effect sensors.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with a thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising: a set of cascades incorporating a track, the track including a first track end and a second track end, a blocker door, and a link including a first link end coupled to the track and a second link end coupled to the blocker door, where the cascades are configured to translate between a stowed position and a deployed position to cause the first link end to traverse the track.

A system for diffusing one or more volatile compounds includes a base and a pod tray, carried by the base. At least one pod is carried by the pod tray. The pod has a housing holding a volatile compound mass, the housing and mass being moveable relative to one another. An actuator is carried by the base, the actuator being operable to engage the pod and move the housing and the volatile compound mass relative to one another. The pod and the actuator are positionable relative to one another such that one or both of the pod and the actuator can be positioned proximate to one another to enable the actuator to engage the pod and move the housing and the volatile compound mass relative to one another.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle includes a housing, a reservoir, and a lamp. The reservoir can retain a fragrant source (e.g., solid, liquid, or mix thereof. The housing has a hollow region and a recessed area within the top surface of the housing. The recessed area is bounded by a bottom surface and a sidewall. There one or more vent holes in the sidewall. If there is a plurality of vent holes, then they may encircle the sidewall. The vent hole(s) allow an airflow from the hollow region and into the recessed area above the fragrant source. The lamp can emit a light through the bottom surface of the recessed area and through fragrant source.

In one embodiment, a method of creating a protected field is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes directing a first flow of air around a target space, drawing the first flow of air in through a primary air intake vent to create a first flow field envelope. In one embodiment, a second flow of air is directed within the first flow field envelope.

This application claims a system for the distribution of waste water. The invention allows water to drain from a source into the invention, where the water is distributed and diffused through a collection of outlets. Thus a large amount of water can be distributed over a large area so that the environment can more easily absorb the water and the flow of water does not cause erosion. The preferred embodiment of the invention optionally may include one or more filters to remove substances from the water before distribution.

'Long, Tall’ Marcia Ball comes to The Freight in support of her latest album. Marcia Ball has been on the road, playing good-time music, for as long as she can remember. "When the hippie culture started emerging, I dropped out of college and got a chance to play piano in a rock and roll band," Ball said from her home in Austin, Texas.…

Jada Imani strives to reflect her inner dreams in her recorded work. Jada Imani has been writing songs since she was five years old. At 21, she is committed to forging her own way as a rapper, writer, emcee, and youth organizer in the Bay Area.…

Quartet's formidable live performance at Zellerbach was nonetheless upstaged by the work of its collaborators. That's probably how the members wanted it. Without disrespecting the formidable prowess of the Kronos Quartet, the contemporary string quartet was upstaged in its live performance last Thursday at Zellerbach Hall by a guy at a piano and the filmed performance of an Inuk throat singer and a pipa player. The ambitious two-part program An Evening With Kronos Quartet began with celebrated minimalist composer and keyboard player Terry Riley performing a solo piano set.…

The Sunset Canyoneers are releasing their first album. It just happens to sound like a greatest-hits package. The poster the Sunset Canyoneers created for their album release party in Oakland is an eye-catching throwback to the covers of pulp westerns from the 1930s and 1940s. A snarling, sun-tanned cowboy in full regalia — chaps, six guns, bandana and ten-gallon hat — stands guard over a gray-haired fiddle player fumbling for his bow.…

(P.S.: No birds were harmed in the making of this album.) Vocalist and songwriter Marica Petrey is too young to have experienced mind-blowing Bay Area art-rock bands like Idiot Flesh and Sleepytime Gorrila Museum, but she's working in a grand tradition that turns concerts into gothic, theatrical extravaganzas. Far more than a recording, her new album Shapeshifter by her band Girl Swallows Nightingale features an impressive cast of collaborators who help her summon weird and wondrous sights, sounds, textures, and even tastes. …