Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080258348 | Method and applicator for selective electromagnetic drying of ceramic-forming mixture - Electromagnetic (EM) drying of a plugged ware is provided that includes subjecting the ware to an axially non-uniform EM radiation field that causes more EM radiation to be dissipated in either of the plugged regions than in the unplugged region. The EM radiation field is provided by a configurable applicator system that includes a feed waveguide and a conveyor path. The feed waveguide includes configurable slots. The configurable applicator system can be set to selectively vary the amount of EM radiation dissipated by each ware along the longitudinal axis of each ware as a function of ware position along the conveying path, thereby enhancing the EM drying process. | 10-23-2008 |
20090097855 | Hybrid wireless/wired RoF transponder and hybrid RoF communication system using same - A radio-over-fiber (RoF) hybrid wired/wireless transponder is disclosed that is configured to provide both wireless and wired communication between a hybrid head-end and one or more client devices. The hybrid transponder includes optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion capability and is configured to frequency multiplex/demultiplex electrical “wired” signals and electrical “wireless” signals. The electrical wireless signals are wirelessly communicated to the client device(s) via a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system within a cellular coverage area. The electrical wired signals are communicated to the client device(s) via a wireline cable that plugs into a wireline cable port on the transponder. The hybrid RoF system includes a hybrid head-end capable of transmitting and receiving wired and wireless optical signals, and an optical fiber cable that is optically coupled to the hybrid head-end and to at least one hybrid transponder. Drop-down transponder configurations that allow for easy wired and wireless connectivity between the client device(s) to the transponder(s) are also disclosed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090166355 | Microwave applicator, system, and method for providing generally circular heating - A microwave applicator assembly includes a microwave applicator that excites TE modes and provides a generally circular heating pattern in a lossy dielectric material. The microwave applicator has a processing chamber bounded by a circumferential wall in which a plurality of indents are formed. The microwave applicator assembly may further include a feed waveguide coupled to the microwave applicator for inputting microwaves into the processing chamber. The microwave applicator assembly may further include one or more choking sections in communication with the processing chamber to enhance heating efficiency and reduce microwave leakage. | 07-02-2009 |
20090217705 | Temperature control of glass fusion by electromagnetic radiation - Disclosed are systems and methods for forming glass sheets. Methods and systems are provided that comprise a refractory body configured to receive glass-based material and means for transmitting energy to selectively heat at least a portion of the refractory body through the glass-based material. In one aspect, the energy transmitted is of a selected frequency that is not fully absorbed by the glass-based material and is at least partially absorbed by the refractory body. The energy can be transmitted by a laser beam array, a scanning laser beam, a microwave generator, a radio frequency generator, or other means. | 09-03-2009 |
20100107435 | Methods and Apparatus for Drying Ceramic Green Bodies with Microwaves - Methods and apparatus for drying ceramic green bodies include providing one or more ceramic green bodies in a microwave heating chamber operatively connected to a microwave source and a PLC. The total mass of the ceramic green bodies present in the microwave heating chamber is determined. Microwave energy is generated with the microwave source and transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber. A transmitted power of the microwave energy transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber is measured with power sensors. The reflected power of reflected microwave energy reflected back from the microwave heating chamber is also measured. The power of the microwave energy transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber is adjusted based on the total mass of ceramic green bodies present in the microwave heating chamber, the measured transmitted power and the measured reflected power. | 05-06-2010 |
20100212299 | METHODS FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO REGENERATE EXHAUST GAS PARTICULATE FILTERS - Methods for determining when to regenerate an exhaust gas particulate filter ( | 08-26-2010 |
20110019999 | Location Tracking Using Fiber Optic Array Cables and Related Systems and Methods - Fiber optic array cables and related systems and methods to determine and/or track locations of objects are disclosed. The fiber optic array cables can be employed in an optical-fiber-based communication system, including a centralized optical-fiber based communication system. In one embodiment, the fiber optic array cable is configured to carry optical RF or radio-over-fiber (RoF) signals to establish communications with objects. The fiber optic array cable includes multiple reference units along the length of the cable. The reference units can be configured to convert received optical RF signals into electrical RF signals to establish RF communications with objects capable of receiving electrical RF signals. The reference units are also configured to convert received electrical RF signals from the objects into optical RF signals, which are then used to determine the location of the object. Having the availability of the multiple reference units on one or more the fiber optic array cables can provide enhanced reliability in tracking objects. | 01-27-2011 |
20110116794 | Radio-Over-Fiber (RoF) System for Protocol-Independent Wired and/or Wireless Communication - An optically-switched fiber optic communication system, such as a Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) based optical fiber link system, may be used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system may include a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank. Fiber optic cables comprising optical fibers optically couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The optical switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas can communicate with each other over the optical fibers through the HEU. By using the optically-switched fiber optic communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate. | 05-19-2011 |
20110204548 | Tray Assemblies And Methods For Manufacturing Ceramic Articles - Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly includes a tray body having a supporting surface operable to support a ceramic article for passage through a microwave drying apparatus during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover associated with the tray body. The microwave coupling cover envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%-60 dry. | 08-25-2011 |
20120105208 | TRANSPONDER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIO-OVER-FIBER (RoF) WIRELESS PICOCELLULAR SYSTEMS - Transponder systems and methods for radio-over-fiber (RoF) wireless picocellular system are disclosed. One type of transponder system includes a RoF transponder used in combination with at least one radiation-reflector assembly to provide for enhanced antenna directivity of the transponder. Another type of transponder system is a transponder node assembly, wherein two or more transponders are integrated into a single assembly, thereby reducing cost while facilitating RoF wireless picocellular system deployment. Another type of transponder system provides one or more transponders in a RoF wireless picocellular system with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, and uses an RFID tag reader to locate and read information from the transponders, as well as to perform transponder mode selection. Another type of transponder system is directed to a tether cable assembly that includes a dispensible/retractable coiled tether cable housed in a protective housing for connecting the tether cable to a transponder. | 05-03-2012 |
20120195329 | HYBRID WIRELESS/WIRED RoF TRANSPONDER AND HYBRID RoF COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SAME - A radio-over-fiber (RoF) hybrid wired/wireless transponder is disclosed that is configured to provide both wireless and wired communication between a hybrid head-end and one or more client devices. The hybrid transponder includes optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion capability and is configured to frequency multiplex/demultiplex electrical “wired” signals and electrical “wireless” signals. The electrical wireless signals are wirelessly communicated to the client device(s) via a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system within a cellular coverage area. The electrical wired signals are communicated to the client device(s) via a wireline cable that plugs into a wireline cable port on the transponder. The hybrid RoF system includes a hybrid head-end capable of transmitting and receiving wired and wireless optical signals, and an optical fiber cable that is optically coupled to the hybrid head-end and to at least one hybrid transponder. Drop-down transponder configurations that allow for easy wired and wireless connectivity between the client device(s) to the transponder(s) are also disclosed. | 08-02-2012 |
20120264586 | METHODS FOR DETERMINING MIXEDNESS OF BATCH MATERIAL AND FOR OBTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY CONSISTENT MIXEDNESS OF BATCH MATERIAL - The disclosure relates to methods for determining mixedness of batch material for making ceramic ware, and methods for obtaining substantially consistent mixedness of batch material for making ceramic ware. | 10-18-2012 |
20120321305 | RADIO-OVER-FIBER (RoF) SYSTEM FOR PROTOCOL-INDEPENDENT WIRED AND/OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A switched wireless system is used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system includes a head-end unit (HEU) having a switch bank. Cables couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas communicate with each other. By using the switched communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate. | 12-20-2012 |
20130133220 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT MICROWAVE DRYING OF EXTRUDED HONEYCOMB STRUCTURES - Systems and methods for efficient microwave drying of extruded honeycomb structures are disclosed. The methods include conveying first and second sets of honeycomb structures in opposite directions through multiple applicator cavities. Each honeycomb structure has a moisture content M | 05-30-2013 |
20130221578 | Tray Assemblies and Methods For Manufacturing Ceramic Articles - Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly includes a tray body having a supporting surface operable to support a ceramic article for passage through a microwave drying apparatus during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover associated with the tray body. The microwave coupling cover envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%-60 dry. | 08-29-2013 |
20140000123 | METHODS OF MAKING A HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE | 01-02-2014 |
20140118464 | RADIO-OVER-FIBER (ROF) SYSTEM FOR PROTOCOL-INDEPENDENT WIRED AND/OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A switched wireless system is used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system includes a head-end unit (HEU) having a switch bank. Cables couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas communicate with each other, such as through videoconferencing. By using the switched communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate. | 05-01-2014 |
20140147621 | HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE COMPRISING A MULTILAYER CEMENT SKIN - Disclosed is a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising a honeycomb body and a multilayered outer layer formed of a thick core layer applied and rapidly dried and a thin clad layer dried more gently to form a crack free dual skin layer. The core layer may have properties that are closer to those of the ceramic honeycomb body in service than the clad layer that may provide a tough outer shell to withstand handling and assembly. | 05-29-2014 |
20140286643 | EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCY (EHF) DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS, AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Extremely High Frequency (EHF) distributed antenna systems and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base unit for distributing EHF modulated data signals to a RAU(s) is provided. The base unit includes a downlink data source input configured to receive downlink electrical data signal(s) from a data source. The base unit also includes an E-O converter configured to convert downlink electrical data signal(s) into downlink optical data signal(s). The base unit also includes an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in the EHF band. The base unit also includes a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal(s) with the electrical carrier signal to form downlink modulated optical signal(s) comprising a downlink optical data signal(s) modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal. The modulator is further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to the RAU(s). | 09-25-2014 |
20140327186 | RAPID DRYING OF CERAMIC GREENWARES - Systems and methods for rapid drying of ceramic greenwares having a high graphite content are disclosed. The methods include employing microwave drying to bring the dryness of the ceramic greenware to a first select dryness and then employing close-coupled hot-air drying to bring the dryness to the final target dryness. The judicious use of close-coupled hot-air drying reduces end defects due to unevenness in the microwave drying process while also substantially speeding up the drying process. Various configurations for and combinations of microwave drying and close-coupled hot-air drying are disclosed. | 11-06-2014 |