Abstract: A system drives one or a plurality of LEDs, regulating their brightness by controlling the LEDs' average current or voltage. The system includes a switching power converter and an integrated digital regulator with at least one of electrical, thermal, and optical feedbacks. The regulator is constructed as a hysteretic peak current mode controller for continuous mode of operation of the power converter. For a discontinuous mode of operation of the power converter, a pulse averaging sliding mode control is used. Average LED current is measured by integrating LED pulse current at off time and hysteretically adjusting on time of the power switch. An input battery is protected from discharging at abnormally low impedance of the output.

Abstract: A snowboard binding (100) having a baseplate (110), a highback (118) attached to the baseplate, and a strap assembly (120) including an instep strap subassembly (124) pivotably attached to the baseplate on one side, and releasably attachable to a mounting strap (132) on the other side. The baseplate includes a lateral toe wall (116). The strap assembly includes a forefoot strap (140) having an upper leg (142) that engages the instep strap, optionally a medial leg (144) that attaches to the medial side of the baseplate, and a front leg (146) that engages a front end of the baseplate. The toe portion of the user's boot (90) is engaged by the forefoot strap. The user secures a boot to the binding with a single engagement mechanism, such as a ratchet buckle (130), which secures both the instep portion and the forefoot strap portions of the strap assembly.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit is used in a multimeter to amplify signals applied between a pair of test terminals. A voltage applied to one of the test terminals is amplified by a first operational amplifier configured as a voltage follower. An output of the first operational amplifier is applied to an inverting input of a second operational amplifier configured as an integrator. An output of the second operational amplifier is connected to the other of the test terminals. A voltage generated at the output of the second operational amplifier provides an indication of the magnitude and polarity of the voltage applied to the first and second test terminals.

Abstract: Comparison values are calculated for evaluating a commercial transaction. A request for quote received from a buyer agent includes a product specification data set that identifies items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter. Price data sets received from seller agents identify items and prices in response to the product specification data set. At least one of the price data sets identifies an item having a different parameter value as compared to the item in another price data set. A comparison value for each price data set is generated by determining a price total from the price data set and calculating a summed market price total by summing market price totals for each of the items. Calculating market price totals includes obtaining metric data indicative of market prices. The summed market price total is compared to the price total for the price data set to generate the comparison value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a high-voltage bushing of a rotating electric machine, the communicating holes are inclined at least toward a circumferential direction of the hollow conductor or toward a machine external side from a direction vertical to a wall surface of the hollow conductor.

Abstract: A shroud assembly for an engine cooling fan positioned between an engine and a radiator includes a ring shroud, a radiator shroud, and a flexible boot. The ring shroud is mounted adjacent to the fan and includes a locking feature. The radiator shroud, which is mounted to the rear of the radiator, has a first end with a first aperture for receiving air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture. A first end of the flexible boot engages the locking feature of the ring shroud to secure the flexible boot to the ring shroud. A second end of the flexible boot contacts the radiator shroud so that the boot provides fluid communication between the ring shroud and the radiator shroud.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting the energy of HIFU signals delivered to a patient, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits a HIFU signal into a patient and receives echoes therefrom. The echo signals are analyzed to determine the energy of the signals in a first range, such as at one or more harmonics and/or sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal, and energy of the echo signals in a second range such as at the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal. Based on the comparison, the energy and/or focus of the HIFU signals delivered to the patient is adjusted. An image of the compared echo signal powers in two or more frequency ranges may also be displayed for a user or used to adjust the focus point of the HIFU signals.

Abstract: The promotional orchestration engine includes a services engine that provides transactional responses to a user's request, such as informational results being returned to the user or request for further actions that will be forwarded. An analysis engine stores data and provides tactical and strategic level analysis. The analysis engine uses transactional data generated by the services engine to abstract knowledge and consolidate and aggregate such information. The learning engine is a mechanism by which the promotional orchestration engine adapts itself to changing conditions. The learning engine preferably customizes various components of the services engine and components of the analysis engine. The learning engine causes the services engine to present different information over time so as to keep the system fresh. From a user's standpoint, the learning engine allows components of the services engine to be personalized to the particular user.

Abstract: Polymers that enable the use of high work-function metals as a cathode in optoelectronic devices and optoelectronic devices incorporating the polymers as an electron transport layer.

Abstract: High intensity x-ray radiation therapy is used in the medical industry to treat tumors. Patients typically receive radiation treatment over a period of time, in which a quality assurance test of the x-ray beam is performed before each treatment. These quality assurance tests are performed by a detection device that receives the x-ray beam and measures the intensity, shape and uniformity of the x-ray beam. The integrated patient positioning and radiation quality assurance system includes recess assemblies into which an x-ray detection device is inserted to fix the location of the x-ray detection device on the board. As a result, the accuracy of the quality assurance test is improved and the set up time is reduced.

Abstract: A computerized prosthesis alignment system includes a transducer that can measure socket reactions in the anterior/posterior plane and the right/left planes, while canceling or reducing the transverse forces on the measurements of these socket reactions. In addition, the transducer is also capable of determining the axial load or weight experienced by the prosthesis. The computerized prosthesis alignment system is in communication with a host computer. The moment data from the transducer is interpreted by the user via a computer interface. The host computer includes memory for storing one or more applications. These applications receive data from the transducer, interpret the data with discrete algebraic or fuzzy logic algorithms, and display the output numerically and graphically. Applications may also interpret the data to provide analyses to the user for aligning the prosthesis.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided for producing stratified cotyledonary conifer somatic embryos. The method comprises (a) incubating a culture comprising immature conifer somatic embryos in a culture vessel comprising a development medium having an osmolality in the range of from 300 mM/Kg to 450 mM/Kg at a temperature of from 22° C. to 25° C. for a first incubation period sufficient in length for at least a portion of the embryos to reach anatomical maturity; and (b) subjecting the embryos in the culture vessel in accordance with step (a) to a temperature of from 0° C. to 10° C. for a second incubation period of at least one week to produce stratified cotyledonary somatic embryos.

Abstract: A wireless network is provided, that may comprise wireless sensor units organized in chains of wireless sensor units. Each wireless sensor unit may comprise plural sensors and at least a wireless transceiver connected to communicate by wires or wirelessly with the plural sensors. Each chain of wireless sensor units may include a terminal wireless sensor unit and intermediate wireless sensor units, each intermediate wireless sensor unit being configured to relay data along the chain of intermediate wireless sensor units towards the terminal wireless sensor unit. The terminal wireless sensor unit in each chain of wireless sensor units is adapted to communicate wirelessly with at least one backhaul unit of plural backhaul units; and the backhaul units are adapted to communicate with a central computer.

Abstract: Exemplary methods are provided for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, a vehicle well disposed in the floor, an inboard and outboard ramp support members. In one embodiment, ramp assembly mounts, such as mounting blocks, are utilized for installing the ramp assembly into the vehicle.