Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a rotating optical reflector. Optical systems may have a limited field of view, and so in order to expand the area that the optical system collects data from, the field of view of the optical system may be scanned across a target area. The present disclosure is directed to a rotating optical reflector, which includes a transmissive layer which refracts light onto a reflective layer, which has a normal which is not parallel to the axis about which the optical reflector is rotated. The optical reflector may be both statically and dynamically balanced, which may allow an increased size of the optical reflector, which in turn may increase the aperture of an optical system (e.g., a lidar system) using the rotating optical reflector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and a folding fan catheter. The shaft is configured for insertion through a sheath into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The folding fan catheter is fixed to a distal end of the shaft and includes (a) a resilient foldable frame, which is fixed to the distal end of the shaft and is configured to be unfolded so as to assume a fan shape, (b) one or more flexible surfaces, coupled to the frame to form a fan-shaped surface when the frame is unfolded, and (c) a plurality of electrodes that are disposed over the one or more flexible surfaces and are configured to contact tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose detection system for use with a medication delivery device in which a dose setting member rotates relative to an actuator during dose delivery. The dose detection system includes a module which is removably attached to the medication delivery device. The module includes a rotation sensor attached to the actuator during dose delivery. A sensed element is attached to the dose setting member and includes surface features detectable by the rotation sensor. The rotation sensor comprises a following member including a contact portion resting against and spring-biased in the direction of the surface features. The contact surface is positioned to move over the surface features during rotation of the sensed element, and the rotation sensor is responsive to the movement of the contact portion over the surface features to detect the rotation of the dose setting member.

Abstract: A joist assembly system that is structured for dynamic retrieval of components, dynamic and precise positioning and location of retrieved components, assembly of the components to form a joist, and delivery of the assembled joist. The joist assembly system has a plurality of material handling systems, a plurality of welding systems, and a rigging table system. The material handling systems are structured to load and position the components such as chords and webs onto the rigging table. The rigging table in turn supports the chords or webs. Subsequently, the plurality of welding systems weld the webs to the chords to form the joist.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a probe apparatus includes a shaft having a distal end, a tube containing separate powder granules of a ferrite, the tube being fixed to the distal end of the shaft, a coil disposed around the tube, and electrical wires connected to the coil so as to read out a signal generated across the coil due to an externally-applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A compressed unit dose toilet cleaning tablet for use with a wand. The composition contains an anionic surfactant, a carbonate or bicarbonate salt, an organic acid, and about 10% to about 40% by weight polyethylene glycol having molecular weight greater than 3,350. A unit dose of the composition is compressed into a tablet or puck that dissolves in toilet water after cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus, including a drone which is assigned to a venue and programmed or configured for flight, navigation, or operation, within an interior of the venue. The drone is activated upon an occurrence of a drone activation event, and the drone flies or navigates inside the venue in response to the drone activation event. The drone finds or locates an individual or an animal inside the venue, and initiates a communication link with a communication device, wherein the communication device is located at a location remote from the venue. An audio recording device or a video recording device of or at the drone records audio information or video information, and the drone transmits the audio information or the video information to the communication device or to a computer. The computer is located at a location remote from the venue. The drone provides audio information via a speaker.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate, including an inner surface and an outer surface, and shaped to define (i) multiple narrower channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface, and (ii) one or more wider channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface. The apparatus further includes an outer layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the outer surface, an inner layer of the electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the inner surface, a plating layer of the electrically-conducting metal that plates the wider channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer, and respective columns of the electrically-conducting metal that fill the narrower channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A skateboard deck that is both stiff in one dimension and flexible in another dimension is disclosed. The deck includes an elongated body characterized by a longitudinal axis, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of apertures. The plurality of ribs are long, narrow beams oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and integral with the bottom of the elongated body. The plurality of apertures are distributed in a plurality of rows also oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The ribs and rows of apertures are interposed in an alternating pattern across the width of the deck. The resulting deck is stiff in the longitudinal direction yet flexible with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis. The deck is therefore flexible enough to enable the front and rear trucks to rotate with respect to one another while still being rigid enough to withstand the weight of the rider.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

Abstract: A portable cooler container is provided, with a payload chamber for one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods. A cooling unit is disposed in the payload chamber. The cooling unit includes a vessel filled with a cooling material (e.g., dry ice) and closed with a lid. One or more variable apertures of the cooling unit are operable to controllably release a chilled gas (e.g., CO2 gas) generated by the cooling material into the payload chamber of the vessel to cool the payload.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a shaft and an expandable flexible distal-end assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of organ of a patient. The expandable flexible distal-end assembly, which is fitted at a distal-end of the shaft, includes a flat flexible backing sheet, including irrigation channels, and two flexible substrates having respective arrays of electrodes disposed thereon, the substrates attached one on either side of the backing sheet.

Abstract: A catheter having a catheter shaft that has a more uniform construction throughout a length of the catheter shaft and is able to provide more than one deflection curvature. The catheter shaft includes a flexible outer tubular member, and a less flexible inner tubular member extending through the outer tubular member in a proximal section of the catheter shaft, wherein the inner tubular member is afforded longitudinal movement relative to the outer tubular member. The catheter also includes at least one puller wire extending through the inner tubular member to deflect a distal deflection section of the catheter shaft, wherein the longitudinal movement of the inner tubular member relative to the outer tubular member enables an operator to select and set a deflection curvature of the distal deflection section.

Abstract: An actively heated mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating element to actively heat the chamber, batteries, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating element. A user interface is electrically connected to the circuitry and has one or more buttons actuatable a) to turn on the heating element, b) to adjust a temperature setting to one of multiple temperature settings to control the operation of the heating element to heat or maintain the liquid at a user selected temperature setting, and c) to turn off the heating element.

Abstract: The disclosed compounds relate to treatments and therapies for protein kinase-associated disorders. There is also a need for compounds useful in the treatment or prevention or amelioration of one or more symptoms of cancer, transplant rejections, and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, there is a need for methods for modulating the activity of protein kinases, such as CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, CDK5, CDK6, CDK7, CDK8 and CDK9, using the compounds provided herein.

Abstract: A method, consisting of providing a metal wire having a wire diameter and an end, and positioning a conductor at a distance from the end of the wire. The method further includes creating an electrical discharge between the conductor and the end, while setting the distance and an electrical potential of the discharge, so as to create a bead of a predefined size on the end. The method also includes assembling the wire with the created bead into an invasive probe, so that the bead is positioned at an outer surface of the probe.

Abstract: A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: A portable container has a payload chamber for holding goods and a lid operable to access the payload chamber. The portable container also has an electronic system with one or more power storage devices, circuitry that wirelessly communicates via a cell radio with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device, and an electronic display screen. The electronic system also has a button or a touch screen configured to be actuated by a user to a) automatically switch sender and recipient information on the electronic display screen to facilitate return of the portable container to the sender or b) automatically contact a parcel carrier to alert the parcel carrier that the portable container is ready for pickup.