Abstract: In a method for starting an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, an injection timing point is specified for each chamber at which a first fuel injection pulse is carried out and an ignition timing point is specified at which a first ignition pulse is to be carried out in the chamber. A crankshaft is caused to rotate by a starter device. For all chambers in which the injection timing point takes place in time after the ignition pulse, the respectively specified ignition timing point is adjusted in terms of reduced torque output. Thereafter, in each combustion chamber the injection pulse is carried out at the respectively specified injection timing point and the ignition pulse is carried out at the respectively specified ignition timing point. In this way, any potentially present fuel residue is combusted and at the same time the torque produced thereby is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for performing three-dimensional imaging using backscattered photons generated from a positron-electron annihilation. The systems and methods are implemented using the pair of photons created from a positron-electron annihilation. The trajectory and emission time of one of the photons is detected near the annihilation event. Using this collected data, the trajectory of the second photon can be determined. The second photon is used as a probe photon and is directed towards a target for imaging. The interaction of the second probe photon with the target produces back scattered photons that can be detected and used to create a three-dimensional image of the target. The systems and methods described herein are particularly advantageous because they permit imaging with a system from a single side of the target, as opposed to requiring imaging equipment on both sides of the target.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement (12) includes a housing (6), at least one locking element (14) designed to at least partly surround the housing (6) forming a first area of contact (18) with the housing (6) via a positive locking or frictional connection to limit rotational movement of the housing (6), and a connecting element (16). The connecting element (16), arranged at least partly circumferentially around the housing (6) and being cylindrical with a center axis (X), has at least one locking recess (20) designed to at least partly take in the respective locking element (14) to limit rotational movement of the connecting element (16) via positive locking. The housing (6), the locking element (14) and the connecting element (16) are designed and arranged such as to limit movement of the housing (6) relative to the connecting element (16) at least in one direction of the center axis (X).

Abstract: A light fixture includes multiple LED modules, with each LED module including a substrate on which one or more LED's are disposed. The LED modules can interface with one another in a variety of different configurations such that when adjacent LED modules interface with one another, there is a substantially continuous array of LED's across the LED modules. Electrical connectors or other means for powering the LED modules are disposed such that they do not impact the continuity of light across adjacent LED modules.

Abstract: Securely disclosing a personal identification number (“PIN”) associated with a financial account to an account holder and receiving a new PIN from the account holder. A PIN reveal application can interact with a hardware security module (“HSM”) using a PIN offset masking process and randomly generated account data to reveal the PIN to the account holder one or more PIN characters at a time. A PIN set application also can interact the HSM using a PIN offset masking process and randomly generated account data to receive a new PIN for the account one or more PIN characters at a time. In each of the PIN reveal and PIN setting processes, less than the entirety of the PIN is stored in an unencrypted format outside of the HSM only.

Abstract: A Signal Conditioning Filter (SCF) and a Signal Integrity Unit (SIU) address the coupled problem of equalization and noise filtering in order to improve signal fidelity for decoding. Specifically, a received signal can be filtered in a manner to optimize the signal fidelity even in the presence of both significant (large magnitudes of) ISI and noise. The present invention can provide an adaptive method that continuously monitors a signal fidelity measure. Monitoring the fidelity of a multilevel signal can be performed by external means such as by the SIU. A received signal y(t) can be “conditioned” by application of a filter with an electronically adjustable impulse response g(t). A resulting output z(t) can then be interrogated to characterize the quality of the conditioned signal. This fidelity measure q(t) can be used to adjust the filter response to maximize the fidelity measure of the conditioned signal.

Abstract: A photocontroller operates one or more lamps, such as a GU24 compact fluorescent lamp, based on ambient light to provide dusk-to-dawn operation. The photocontroller includes a photosensor for detecting the level of ambient light. The photosensor provides a signal to a photocontrol circuit that controls a switching device to selectively provide power to the lamp based on the level of ambient light detected by the photosensor. A fault detection circuit monitors the level of ambient light and the status of the lamp to determine whether the photocontroller is operating properly. The fault detection circuit determines the status of the lamp based on current flow to the lamp as determined by a current sensor. In addition, the photocontroller can include a processor for performing certain photocontrol and fault monitoring functions.

Abstract: A pulse is applied through a capacitive touch key sensor to a sampling capacitor of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The voltage charge arriving at the sampling capacitor will be maximum when there is substantially no shunt capacitance between the capacitive touch key sensor and the sampling capacitor. However, a object such as an operator's finger when in close proximity to the capacitive touch key sensor will create a capacitive shunt to ground that diverts some of the charge that is supposed to go to the sampling capacitor and thereby reduces the voltage charge on the sampling capacitor. This change in charge voltage when the capacitive touch key sensor is activated (touched) may be easily detected with the ADC. In addition, light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be integrated with the capacitive touch key sensors and use the same connections on an integrated circuit device in a time division multiplexed manor.

Abstract: An extremely dilute mixture of a liquid in a flowing fluid stream is prepared by forming tiny droplets of the liquid and injecting the droplets individually into the flowing stream. The rate at which liquid is added to the flowing stream is determined by the number of droplet forming units that are provided and upon the frequency with which the units are activated, allowing a precise digital control of the concentration of the liquid in the flowing fluid stream.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to assigning and simultaneously running multiple client-side experiments on client devices. A file includes information regarding experiments that are available, including information regarding “layers,” which are logical, imaginary containers in which each experiment “resides.” Each experiment is associated with one layer. For each experiment, the file includes information regarding a location and size of the experiment within the layer. When the client device takes an action, a software module identifies a value of an identifier associated with the action. Each such identifier is associated with one or more of the layers. The software module can calculate, for each of the associated layers, a location within the layer based on the identifier value. The computer software module can identify, based on the information in the file, each experiment that overlaps with the calculated location within each layer and cause each identified experiment to be activated.

Abstract: A greeting card display includes an upper tier and a lower tier positioned below the upper tier. The upper and lower tiers include multiple rows of pockets for displaying greeting cards. Some of the pockets of the upper tier and the bottom tier, typically the pockets in each of the bottom rows, present greeting cards in a full-facing manner to display all or substantially all of the full face of each greeting card. The upper tier can include a card highlighter, positioned along one of the rows, configured with pockets to present and highlight cards placed therein. Shadowboxes capable of displaying a greeting card in a full-facing manner can be positioned above the upper tier on the display and are designed to attract the attention of the consumer. A display panel, designed to evoke emotions associated with greeting cards in the shadowboxes, can be positioned between one or more of the shadowboxes.

Abstract: A method and kit for assaying a cell sample for the presence of at least a threshold number of cells of a given type are disclosed. The kit includes an assay device having a sample chamber for receiving the cell sample and an elongate collection chamber containing a selected-density and/or viscosity medium and having along its length, a plurality of cell-collection regions, and particles which are capable of specific attachment to cells of the selected cell type, and which are effective, when attached to the cells, to increase the density or magnetic susceptibility of the cells. In operation, particle-bound cells and particles in the cell sample are drawn through the elongate collection chamber under the influence of a gravitational or selected centrifugal or magnetic-field force until the particle-bound cells and particles completely fill successive cell-collection regions in the collection chamber.

Abstract: An optical wall wash system including at least one module comprised of a 2 by 2 array of fixed elements, each element including a reflector and a refractor; a fixture, including light emitting diodes (LEDs) affixed thereto, for securing the at least one module, wherein there is a 1:1 correspondence between elements and LEDs and the fixture is rotated a first angular amount from nadir and towards a wall. Each of the elements within the at least one module is further oriented a different angular amount in relation to its underlying LED from each other element within the at least one module.

Abstract: A lighting control system determines an optimal way to operate one or more lamps to achieve a desired light output and/or to control one or more parameters. The lighting control system includes a detection circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit performs a wide-scope scan and a narrow-scope scan to find the best way to operate the lamps. The wide-scope scan includes driving the lamp(s) using multiple output settings, evaluating the light output at each setting, and determining which setting produced the best results. The narrow-scope scan includes making small adjustments to the settings to better refine the light output. The detection circuit includes one or more sensors for providing measurements of the light output by the lamp(s) or of a controller parameter, such as power consumption, for each setting evaluated by the control circuit.

Abstract: An LED worklight having a center core and a first panel and a second panel coupled to the center core. The first panel includes a first array of LEDs mounted to a first circuit board disposed within a first opening formed within the first panel and a first lens disposed over the first array of LEDs. The second panel includes features similar to the first panel. The second panel is rotatable around the center core from a 0 degree closed orientation to about a 360 degree orientation, and is positionable at any intermediate angle therebetween. The LED worklight includes a retractable hook for mounting to an elevated object. The LED worklight also includes at least one magnet to mount the LED worklight to vertical/vertically angling surfaces. The array of LEDs mounted to the first panel and the second panel can be controlled independently of one another.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor that is arranged in such a manner that it can be used in lambda control, and a second exhaust gas sensor that is arranged in such a manner that it can be used in trim control. A HC quality value (EFF_CAT_HC) which is representative of an oxygen storage capacity of the exhaust gas catalyst is determined depending on a measuring signal (VLS_DOWN) of the second exhaust gas sensor. A NOx correction factor (COR_NOX) is determined depending on the measuring signal (VLS_DOWN) of the second exhaust gas sensor, namely depending on signal portions that are representative of the residual oxygen. A NOx quality value (EFF_CAT_DIAL_NOX) is determined depending on the HC quality value (EFF_CAT_HC) and the NOx correction factor (COR_NOX).

Abstract: A method and system of generating an analytical tool for use in assessing a state of an entity is described. The method comprises retrieving source data relating to a state of a community of which the entity forms a part, the source data resulting from a data collecting and analysis mechanism and the source data relating to at least one variable and the, or each, variable comprising a plurality of drivers; performing cluster analysis on the source data to produce an array of reference data; and organizing the array of reference data into a form to be used in analyzing data collected from the community.