Abstract: An electronic system includes a chassis, a liquid coolant supply line assembly, a first electronic subassembly, a second electronic subassembly, and a liquid coolant return line assembly. The liquid coolant supply line assembly includes a coolant supply line configured to receive and convey liquid coolant. The first electronic subassembly includes a first electronic component and a first cooling loop to transfer heat from the first electronic component into the liquid coolant. The second electronic subassembly includes a second electronic component and a second cooling loop to transfer heat from the second electronic component into the liquid coolant The liquid coolant return line assembly includes a coolant return line to receive liquid coolant from the first and second cooling loops.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a system that includes a first Faraday cage defining a first aperture through which a first conveyor extends, a first wirelessly controlled machine disposed in the first Faraday cage, where the first wirelessly controlled machine is configured to transmit control signals using a first frequency range, a second Faraday cage defining a second aperture through which a second conveyor extends, and a second wirelessly controlled machine disposed in the second Faraday cage where the first wirelessly controlled machine is configured to transmit control signals using the first frequency range. Further, a portion of at least one of the first Faraday cage and the second Faraday cage is disposed between the first and second apertures.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a controller for a machine that wirelessly transmits a destination address to a robot which is tasked with transporting an item to the destination corresponding to the received address. Using the address, the robot can select a predefined path stored in its memory for that address. Because multiple robots can move items in the machine at the same time, the robots may collide if their predefined paths intersect. The machine can use a variety of different techniques to prevent collisions between the robots as the robots deliver items to different locations along their predefined paths.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a system that includes a first Faraday cage defining a first aperture through which a first conveyor extends, a first wirelessly controlled machine disposed in the first Faraday cage, where the first wirelessly controlled machine is configured to transmit control signals using a first frequency range, a second Faraday cage defining a second aperture through which a second conveyor extends, and a second wirelessly controlled machine disposed in the second Faraday cage where the first wirelessly controlled machine is configured to transmit control signals using the first frequency range. Further, a portion of at least one of the first Faraday cage and the second Faraday cage is disposed between the first and second apertures.

Abstract: RF shielding techniques are employed to prevent wireless signals transmitted from one machine from reaching another machine using the same frequency range. If the machines are spaced closely together, the wireless signals emitted by one machine may be received by the other, thereby causing interference. In one embodiment, one of the machines is placed in a Faraday cage which prevents it from transmitting wireless signals to, and receiving signals from, the other machine. In another embodiment, machines that use different channels are grouped into a first Faraday cage while machines that use the same channels as the machines in the first Faraday cage are placed in a second Faraday cage. In this manner, the machines in the two cages can reuse the same communication channels while being disposed proximate to each other in the shared space.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a shelving unit has first and second sides, a frame, and a barrier. The frame defines a storage bay between the first and second sides, a first opening at the first side, and a second opening at the second side. The second opening receives a storage bin therethrough and into the storage bay. The first opening receives inventory items therethrough and into the storage bin when the storage bin is disposed in the storage bay. The barrier moves between (i) an open position, where the first opening is open to the storage bay so as to allow inventory items to be passed therethrough and into the storage bin, and (ii) a closed position, where the barrier at least partially obstructs at least one of the first and second openings so as to impede a human from reaching through the storage bay when the storage bin is removed.

Abstract: An active heat transfer device is proposed for heat management in apparatuses such as mobile devices. The proposed heat transfer device may include a thermoelectric (TE) layer, and first and second electrodes both on lateral surfaces of the TE layer. When there is a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes, heat from a heat source may be transferred laterally within the TE layer from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing with a plurality of sides and electronics components in the housing. A porous and thermally conductive material is associated with the housing. The material has a thermal conductively (k), and a porosity between 10% and 70% that results in a specific heat (?) and density (Cp) for the material, such that k*?*Cp is between 0 (J*W)/(m4*K2) and 1,000,000 (J*W)/(m4*K2). The material may be: a glass-based material having a thermal conductivity between 0.5-2 W/m-K, a density between 1000-2500 kg/m3, and a specific heat between 500-1000 J/kg-K; a metal-based material having a thermal conductivity between 300-400 W/m-K, a density between 4000-8000 kg/m3, and a specific heat between 200-300 J/kg-K; and a plastic-based material having a thermal conductivity may be between 0.1-0.4 W/m-K, a density between 400-1000 kg/m3, and a specific heat between 1900-2000 J/kg-K.

Abstract: Sortation systems and methods are described, in which the sortation systems may include a cylindrical sortation tower. The cylindrical sortation tower may include a plurality of sortation levels, and each of the sortation levels may include a plurality of sortation positions arranged around a periphery of the level. Each sortation position may include a sortation container. The cylindrical sortation tower may also include one or more horizontal tracks and vertical tracks, and each of the sortation levels may further include a circumferential track. Shuttles may traverse the horizontal, vertical, and circumferential tracks to transport items to desired sortation containers. Further, robotic arms may remove completed sortation containers from and add empty sortation containers to the cylindrical sortation tower.

Abstract: A conveyor for use in an inventory management system includes a body, one or more displacement elements connected with the body for interfacing with and moving the conveyor along rails, and a sorting mechanism for selectively depositing items from the conveyor to either side of the conveyor. A sorting mechanism includes first and second hinge release assemblies for connecting with, and selectively releasing, a panel that supports the item at either of respective first and second panel ends to allow the panel to fully disconnect at one of the ends and swing open in the first or second direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor system reorients objects from a side-by-side orientation to a sequential orientation. The system has an upper conveyor level and a subsequent conveyor level disposed below the upper level. The upper level has an upper conveyor segment that has an upstream end, a downstream end opposite the upstream end along a flow direction, a pair of lateral sides, a top side, and a bottom side. The upper conveyor segment defines an conveying surface that is between the pair of lateral sides and that carries objects aligned therewith along the flow direction. The upper conveyor segment also defines a discharge opening that is between the conveying surface and one of the lateral sides. The discharge opening extends through the upper conveyor segment along a vertical direction so as to discharge objects onto the subsequent conveyor level that are aligned with the discharge opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor system has a conveyor segment and a knock-down device. The conveyor segment has an upstream end, and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. The conveyor segment defines a conveying surface that carries objects along a flow direction that extends from the upstream end to the downstream end. The knock-down device has a knock-down body that is spaced entirely from the conveying surface along a vertical direction by at least a clearance height. The knock-down body has an upstream body end, a downstream body end offset from the upstream body end with respect to the flow direction, and a ramped surface that extends between the upstream body end and the downstream body end. The ramped surface is ramped away from the conveying surface as the ramped surface extends along the flow direction, and knocks down objects that are stacked on top of one another.

Abstract: Thermal management in a portable computing device differentiates between a temperature increase caused by a steady workload and a temperature increase caused by an instantaneous workload. If it is determined that a detected temperature increase is caused by a steady workload, then a configuration of thermal parameters is applied that optimizes thermal performance for a steady workload. If it is determined that a temperature increase is caused by an instantaneous workload increase, then a configuration of thermal parameters is applied that optimizes thermal performance for an instantaneous workload.

Abstract: An active heat transfer device is proposed for heat management in apparatuses such as mobile devices. The proposed heat transfer device may include a thermoelectric (TE) layer, and first and second electrodes both on lateral surfaces of the TE layer. When there is a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes, heat from a heat source may be transferred laterally within the TE layer from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: The various embodiments provide methods and systems for adjusting the thermal mitigation system of a mobile electronic device when an add-on outer casing is attached. The mobile electronic device determine whether an add-on outer case is attached to the mobile electronic device and change a thermal mitigation parameter of a thermal mitigation process implemented on the mobile electronic device in response. The determination may be via a sensor or a user input. A changed thermal mitigation parameter may be stored in memory, or input by a user or in a communication from the add-on case. The changed thermal mitigation parameter may be determined based on a particular make, model or properties of the add-on case, and/or may be obtained from a database stored in the device or accessed via a network. Removal of the case may be detected and the thermal mitigation parameter returned to an initial value.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for thermal energy management in a portable computing device (“PCD”) based on power level calculations are disclosed. An exemplary method includes tracking instantaneous operating temperatures and active power supply levels to one or more components. With an estimate or measurement of ambient temperature, the instantaneous operating temperature values and active power supply level values can be used to calculate an instantaneous thermal resistance value. In the event that thermal energy generation should be managed, a target operating temperature may be used with the ambient temperature and the instantaneous thermal resistance value to solve for an optimum power supply level. The active power supply level may then be adjusted based on the calculated optimum power supply level.

Abstract: Thermal management in a portable computing device differentiates between a temperature increase caused by a steady workload and a temperature increase caused by an instantaneous workload. If it is determined that a detected temperature increase is caused by a steady workload, then a configuration of thermal parameters is applied that optimizes thermal performance for a steady workload. If it is determined that a temperature increase is caused by an instantaneous workload increase, then a configuration of thermal parameters is applied that optimizes thermal performance for an instantaneous workload.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for idle state optimization in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. An exemplary method includes comparing an aggregate power consumption level for all processing cores in the PCD to a power budget and, if there is available headroom in the power budget, transitioning cores operating in a first idle state to a different idle state. In doing so, the latency value associated with bringing the transitioned cores out of an idle state and into an active state, should the need arise, may be reduced. The result is that user experience and QoS may be improved as an otherwise idle core in an idle state with a long latency time may be better positioned to quickly transition to an active state and process a workload.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for adaptive thermal management techniques implemented in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. Notably, in many PCDs, temperature thresholds associated with various components in the PCD such as, but not limited to, die junction temperatures, package on package (“PoP”) memory temperatures and the “touch temperature” of the external surfaces of the device itself limits the extent to which the performance capabilities of the PCD can be exploited. It is an advantage of the various embodiments of methods and systems for adaptive thermal management that, when a temperature threshold is violated, the performance of the PCD is sacrificed only as much and for as long as necessary to clear the violation before authorizing the thermally aggressive processing component(s) to return to a maximum operating power.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for estimating environmental ambient temperature of a portable computing device (“PCD”) from electrical resistance measurements taken voice coils in a speaker or microphone component are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be recognized that the PCD is in an idle state, thus producing little or no thermal energy. Electrical resistance measurements are taken from a voice coil and used to estimate the environmental ambient temperature to which the PCD is exposed. Certain embodiments may simply render the estimated ambient temperature for the benefit of the user or use the estimated ambient temperature as an input to a program or application running on the PCD. It is envisioned that certain embodiments of the systems and methods may use the estimated ambient temperature to adjust temperature thresholds in the PCD against which thermal management policies govern thermally aggressive processing components.