Abstract: An input redundant power supply circuit includes a power converter, a relay switch unit including a first relay circuit coupled to a first power source and a second relay circuit coupled to a second power source, a control unit configured to control the relay switch unit so that the power converter is supplied power by the first or second power source, a high capacity capacitor powered by the power converter and a step-up converter coupled between the power converter and the high capacity capacitor. The step-up converter maintains a voltage across the high capacity capacitor higher than a voltage of the first power source or a voltage of the second power source when the relay switch unit switches from one of the first power source and the second power source to the other of the first power source and the second power source.

Abstract: An automatic injection device with flow regulation is disclosed. The automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product and includes a plunger. The automatic injection device also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the patient via the insertion needle, a potential energy source, and a regulator configured to restrict release of potential energy and restrict linear movement of the plunger and the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path at a proscribed pace. The regulator includes a clock escapement mechanism. The potential energy source may be a spring that surrounds the drug container and may be magnetically coupled to the plunger. The clock escapement mechanism is configured to control the spring at a regulated rate over a time interval using a gearbox and a rotational-to-linear translator comprising a rack and a pinion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide sensors inside an In-Circuit Tester (ICT) that measure stress on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) every time the ICT runs through a manufacturing process. This ICT can comprise an Internet of Things (IoT) device which can measure, monitor, record, and show stress data that is being exerted by ICTs on the mounted PCB in real-time during tests thereby providing technicians an ability to oversee failures based on historical data that the IoT device provides.

Abstract: A bend test device and bend test method enable a mandrel bend test to be automatically performed. The bend test device includes a controlled motor, a drive shaft coupled to the motor, a nose piece coupled to the drive shaft, and a nose clamp for securing a device under test (DUT) to the nose piece. A control system connected to the bend test device uses a programmed control algorithm to control the bend test device. The motor is connected to the drive shaft and rotates the drive shaft in response to control signaling provided by the control system. The rotating drive shaft in turn rotates the nose piece. Rotation of the nose piece bends the mounted DUT. The motor rotates the drive shaft as defined by the software parameters and the DUT is bent back and forth across a defined radius edge.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide structures for sensing, activation, and signal networking in a composite textile. According to one embodiment, a composite textile can comprise an activation layer of a reactive yarn knit into a fabric. The reactive yarn can have at least one physical property that changes in response to a stimulus. A signaling layer of a first conductive yarn can be knit into the fabric with the activation layer. The first conductive yarn provides the stimulus to the reactive yarn. A sensing layer comprising second conductive yarn can be knit into the fabric with the activation layer and signaling layer. The second conductive yarn can provide a feedback signal corresponding to the stimulus provided by the first conductive yarn of the signaling layer.

Abstract: An automatic injection device with flow regulation. The automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product and includes a plunger. The automatic injection device also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the patient via an insertion needle, a potential energy source, and a regulator configured to restrict release of potential energy and restrict linear movement of the plunger and the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path at a proscribed pace. The regulator includes a clock escapement mechanism and a wire and pulley system including a wire coupled to at least one pulley. The potential energy source may be a spring that surrounds the drug container and may be directly coupled to the plunger and the wire such that movement of the spring and the wire is restricted over time.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board assembly includes providing a circuit board, positioning a plurality of components including at least one thermally-sensitive component having a maximum temperature threshold on the circuit board, positioning a customized protective heat shield on the thermally-sensitive component, exposing the circuit board (having the thermally-sensitive component disposed thereon and the customized protective heat shield disposed on the thermally-sensitive component) to a high-temperature environment wherein temperatures exceed the maximum temperature threshold of the thermally-sensitive component, and removing the customized protective heat shield from the thermally-sensitive component. Customized protective heat shields are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an IV pump infusion system tube comprises a fluid source, an infusion system comprising, an IV pump, a drive unit, a chamber with known constant volume, a control unit, and IV tubing with a known inner diameter tolerance, and a switch and magnetic floating object. The system administers medicinal fluid, calculates the flow rate of the medicinal fluid in the chamber by measuring the time the switch is activated as medicinal fluid rises in the chamber, compares the calculated flow rate with a set flow rate of the IV pump input in the control unit prior to infusion, and adjusts the IV pump and flow rate based on the compared deviations for more accurate delivery to a patient. This configuration may provide a more precise delivery rate of medicinal fluid, preventing harm to the patient and waste of medicine.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for testing the flexibility of a sample such as an electronic device are provided herein. A testing system can have a motor operably connected to a mandrel such that the motor causes the mandrel to accurately and precisely rotate and cause the sample to conform to an outer surface of the mandrel. Moreover, a proximal end of the sample is secured to the outer surface of the mandrel, and the opposing distal end is controlled by a retractable holder such that the entire sample is subjected to a constant bend radius as the mandrel rotates. Other aspects and features such as controlling the environment around the mandrel and securing small samples to the mandrel are also described herein.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment is directed to a method for controlling a rectifier. The method includes applying a first control signal to a first switch of the rectifier to cause a first current to flow through a first inductor of the rectifier, applying a second control signal to a second switch of the rectifier to cause a second current to flow through a second inductor. The second control signal and the first control signal have a phase difference. The method includes detecting that the first current falls to a first minimum value at a first time, detecting that the second current falls to a second minimum value at a second time, determining a first difference between the first time and the second time, and determining whether to adjust the second control signal based on the first difference to bring the phase difference closer to a target phase difference.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for an elastic strip with a first fixed end and a second movable end, the elastic strip configured to be in at least one of a tense state and an elastic state. A release mechanism is configured to maintain the elastic strip in a tense state when the release mechanism is in a holding state, and configured to release the elastic strip when in a release state. A needle path with a first bend is provided. A rigid needle is configured to traverse a first portion of the needle path when the elastic strip is in the elastic state and a cannula is located in the needle path and configured to traverse a second portion of the needle path when the rigid needle traverses the first portion of the needle path.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for producing a flexible electronic device that reduces stress and forces on electronic components are provided. In particular, one or more transition layers with intermediate flexibility, or flexural modulus, are positioned between rigid components and flexible outer layers. This gradually reduces the flexural modulus of the flexible electronics device rather than have an interface between a rigid material and a flexible material. Various materials and methods of forming the layers are described. In addition, an encapsulate layer can be cured to varying flexural moduli to gradually reduce the flexural moduli from the rigid component to the flexible outer layers or bulk structure of the flexible electronic device.

Abstract: A power adapter is disclosed with retractable prongs to engage an outlet and obtain power therefrom, when extended, and be partially or entirely within the housing of the power adapter when retracted. To ensure safe operation, a channel is provided within the power adapter to accommodate the prongs when retracted and to accommodate the prongs travel as they pivot between extended and retracted. The channel is width-limited and/or has a length to make it impossible or, at least, exceptionally difficult for a human finger to come into contact with the prongs while the prongs are extended and sufficiently engaged with an outlet to obtain power therefrom.

Abstract: A planar antenna can include one or more high permeability objects that are added near the planar coil's tips. Further, the planar antenna includes a coil having two or more layers, with each layer having two or more turns. The planar antenna also has a restricted conductor arrangement, where there are a maximum number of turns arranged in any horizontal layer. A turn's conductor could be a single conductor or could be two (2) or more conductors arranged in parallel.

Abstract: A carrier assembly configured to facilitate manufacture of a printed circuit board assembly includes a bottom frame defining a generally rectangular configuration and having a length and a width. The bottom frame is adjustable to vary at least one of the length or the width thereof. The assembly further includes a core releasably positionable on the bottom frame and configured to support a circuit board thereon. A carrier assembly system includes the bottom frame and a plurality of cores.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment is directed to a method for controlling a rectifier. The method includes applying a first control signal to a first switch of the rectifier to cause a first current to flow through a first inductor of the rectifier, applying a second control signal to a second switch of the rectifier to cause a second current to flow through a second inductor. The second control signal and the first control signal have a phase difference. The method includes detecting that the first current falls to a first minimum value at a first time, detecting that the second current falls to a second minimum value at a second time, determining a first difference between the first time and the second time, and determining whether to adjust the second control signal based on the first difference to bring the phase difference closer to a target phase difference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for a multi-protocol LPWAN gateway. In the first mode, a transceiver of the gateway device can communicate with wireless devices in a first LPWAN protocol and, in the second mode, the wireless transceiver can communicate with the one or more wireless devices in a second LPWAN protocol. The second LPWAN protocol can be different from the first LPWAN protocol. In response to selecting the first mode, the gateway device can cause the wireless transceiver to conduct communications with the wireless devices using the first LPWAN protocol. In response to selecting the second mode, the gateway device can cause the wireless transceiver to conduct communications with the wireless devices using the second LPWAN protocol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for a knitted textile with integrated fiber optic light pipes and systems and methods for using such a knitted textile. According to one embodiment, a knitted textile can comprise a woven fabric, one or more fiber optic light pipes woven into a plurality of courses within the woven fabric, and two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile. The one or more fiber optic light pipes can be woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric, can extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and can wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures.

Abstract: Providing security functions in an IoT device can comprise executing, by a TPM of the IoT device, a set of cryptographic functions. The set of cryptographic functions can comprise providing a secure unidirectional uplink from the IoT device to one or more communications networks. The set of cryptographic functions can also be executed by a second TPM to provide a secure unidirectional downlink from the one or more communications networks to the IoT device. The processor of the IoT device need not perform cryptographic functions and the processor of the IoT device and a memory of the IoT device can be outside of a secure boundary maintained by the first TPM and the second TPM. Cryptographic information to provide the secure unidirectional uplink and the secure unidirectional downlink can be exchanged between the first TPM and the second TPM.

Abstract: Heat management in electronic components is an important factor in managing the performance and longevity of such electronic components. By omitting a thermal interface layer and providing thermal vias between a heatsink and an electronic component, such as a surface mount technology (SMT) package, such components may improve thermal transfer to the heatsink and simplify assembly. Thermal vias may be fused during reflow to the heatsink and/or electronic component. As a benefit to the improved heat transfer provided, electronic components may operate at a lower temperature or be configured to perform greater heat-producing activities.