The present invention relates to tackifier compounds and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a tackifier compound including independently substituted or unsubstituted fused rings A and B each independently chosen from (C.sub.5-C.sub.10)cycloalkyl and (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)heterocyclyl. Fused ring A is substituted with (R.sup.1).sub.1-8 and fused ring B is substituted with (OC(O)RC(O)R.sup.2).sub.1-8. At each occurrence R is independently chosen from (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkanylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkenylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkynylene, C.sub.5-C.sub.20(arylene), and (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)heteroarylene, wherein R is unsubstituted or substituted. At each occurrence R.sup.1 is independently selected from OH, OR.sup.3, and OC(O)RC(O)R.sup.2. At each occurrence R.sup.2 is independently chosen from OH, OR.sup.3, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.3, and NR.sup.3.sub.2. At each occurrence R.sup.3 is independently chosen from (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkanyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkenyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkynyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.20(aryl), and (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)heteroaryl, wherein R.sup.3 is unsubstituted or substituted.

The present invention relates to a device for transmission by power-line communication (1) between two items of equipment (10, 20) on board an aircraft (1), comprising a transmission cable (3) configured to simultaneously transmit a power sup ply current and a data signal. This cable (3) comprises two twisted pairs of conductors (34, 34a, 34b). The device comprises a data sender (100) comprising a COFDM coupler (44) configured to modulate a signal by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode, and a data receiver (200) comprising a COFDM coupler (44) configured to demodulate a signal modulated by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode. The data sender (100) is configured to send a test signal by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode, while the data receiver (200) is configured to detect signals corresponding to the test signals sent, and to analyse the carriers of the detected signal in regard to the signal sent and deduce therefrom the state of the transmission cable (3).

A data communication network that includes a wired network operably configured to transfer data at a rate between 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps over ordinary wire of the type used for low power electric distribution. This may be accomplished through use of two or more communication nodes each, respectively, including an Ethernet port electrically coupled to a first external power source at a lower voltage and including an AC/DC low pass filtering circuit and a LISN circuit configuration and communicatively coupled to one another through a wired connection, forming a wired network operably configured to exchange data between one another.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a cable can include a core, a plurality of strips of cladding disposed on the core, and a coupler that facilitates inducing electromagnetic waves that propagate along the core, where a first dielectric constant of the core exceeds a second dielectric constant of each strip of cladding of the plurality of strips of cladding, and where the electromagnetic waves propagate along the core without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a coupler having a base for coupling to a transmission medium, and a plurality of members extending from the base. A distal end of each member of the plurality of members can be separated from an outer surface of the transmission medium. A transmitter coupled to the base can facilitate transmission of signals via the plurality of members. The transmission of signals can induce electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A broadband powerline communication system makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve system performance. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. In order to avoid interference, certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be selectively masked based on the determination. The spectrum characteristics may be determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.

A main power line (+ and lines) is coupled to a power supply, for example a car battery, grounded to a vehicle chassis. Positive and negative main power lines are coupled to a power line gateway module, and spliced to carry power for a segment, until receiving, by splices, RF power line communications. The main power lines, now carrying power and RF power line communications are then coupled to remote modules. RF power line communication carries signal from the power line gateway module to a impedance matching network or a transformer are used to match impedances.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission system having a coupling device, a bypass circuit, a memory and a processor. The coupling device can facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium. The memory can store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations including restarting a timer to prevent the bypass circuit from disabling the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves by the coupling device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for detecting an accumulation of a liquid on a transmission medium that may interfere with the propagation of guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of the transmission medium, and directing a device to remove at least a portion of the liquid accumulating on the surface of the transmission medium to mitigate the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.