Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a border region in an image. A blank border in a video picture is determined by summing luminance or other pixel measures in a direction parallel to the border and looking for the maximum gradient of those summed measures in a direction perpendicular to the border. Sensitivity can be enhanced by increasing (relative to other pixels) the gain of pixels around the present pixel value of the border. The location of the maximum gradient may be weighted by other measures before a decision on border location is taken.

Abstract: A panel has an exterior face thereof adapted for attachment to a support frame and an interior face thereof adapted for defining a boundary of a compartment. The panel includes a core encapsulated within a panel frame of reinforced phenolic material, the core having first and second faces thereof, and a periphery. The panel frame includes first and second skins attached to the first and second faces of the core. One or more closeouts are disposed between the skins about the periphery of the core, with the one or more closeouts being attached to the first and second skins. A heating element is adjacent the interior face of the panel.

Abstract: A wiper blade (10) is proposed having a rubber elastic wiper strip (12). The wiper strip (12) is secured by means of at least one spring rail (14, 16) as supporting element. An end cap (20) is attached to at least one end of the longitudinal extension of the supporting element. According to the invention, the end cap (20) has at least one first, energy-absorbing region (22) and one second, in particular stabilizing region (24).

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet includes a substantially cylindrical shank having an outside diameter and a head. The shank has a central blind bore that defines an inside diameter and an annular piercing end spaced from said head. The ratio of the difference between the outside and inside diameters of the shank in the region around the bore to the outside diameter of the shank is in the range 0.47 to 0.52.

Abstract: A method of remotely operating a door lock. The method includes transmitting a first signal from a remote device to a router via a network; transmitting the signal from the router to a mesh network gateway; translating the signal from a network protocol to a mesh network protocol to produce a second signal; transmitting the second signal from the mesh network gateway to the door lock using radio frequency signaling over the mesh network; receiving the second signal at the door lock; and performing an operation at the door lock in response to the second signal being received by the door lock.

Abstract: A power management system connectable to a primary power source and a secondary power source, and a method of operating the power management system. A transfer switch is electrically connected to the primary and secondary power sources, and a plurality of branch circuits are electrically connected to the transfer switch. The plurality of branch circuits includes a plurality of electrical outlets. The system includes a controller wirelessly coupled to a plurality of portable receptacles, which are coupled between respective electrical outlets and managed devices. The controller manages the receptacles, and consequently the managed devices, during the second power source powering the transfer switch.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a cutter bit on a driven mechanism, the assembly comprising a bit holder including a holding portion adapted to receive the bit and a mounting base rear portion. The bit holder holding portion is a forward portion, the forward portion being separate from but connected to the mounting base rear portion.

Abstract: A trailer sway intervention system. The trailer sway intervention system includes a trailer having a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a brake, and a vehicle towing the trailer. The vehicle includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense operating characteristics of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller receives the sensed operating characteristics from the sensors, determines an error based on a difference between an expected yaw rate and a sensed yaw rate, asymmetrically applies braking forces to one or more trailer wheels based on the difference, and symmetrically applies braking forces to the trailer wheels when the absolute value of the difference between the expected yaw rate and the sensed yaw rate is declining.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor supported in the housing, a chuck assembly having a chuck body rotatable about a central axis in response to torque received from the motor, and a plurality of jaws supported in the chuck body. Each of the jaws includes a front portion operable to grasp a tool element and a rear portion positioned outside the chuck body. The power tool also includes a hammer mechanism operable to impart movement to the chuck assembly, in a direction parallel to the central axis, during rotation of the chuck assembly about the central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an amount of rotation of a rotatable component that rotates with respect to a stationary component. The apparatus includes a cable with a first end fixed to the rotatable component and a second end fixed to the stationary component. The cable, which supports a sensing element, is configured to wind or unwind when the rotatable component rotates with respect to the stationary component. The sensing element extends along a length of the cable and is configured to flex in response to the winding or unwinding of the cable. The sensing element has a resistance that changes in response to flexion of the sensing element. An evaluation circuit is connected to the sensing element and is configured to determine a value having a relation to the resistance and determine the amount of rotation based on the value.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic detection of x-rays at an x-ray sensor. A source emits x-ray radiation towards an x-ray sensor, and the x-ray sensor automatically detects the x-ray radiation. The x-ray sensor automatically detects x-ray radiation by evaluating a time series and determining that a voltage threshold is crossed a certain amount of time earlier than the average time it takes the voltage threshold to be crossed from dark current and other noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a braking control system for automotive vehicles comprising a braking control member (1), a brake booster (4) and a brake master cylinder (5). The system of the invention further comprises a simulator (3) coupled pneumatically to the piston (42) of the brake booster (4). Said simulator (3) receives at least one braking command from the braking control member (1) and makes it possible to establish, in return, a difference in pressure between the front chamber (40) and the rear chamber (41) of the brake booster so as to control the displacement of the piston (42). Application: Brakes for automotive vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injector in which at least one electrically triggered valve is disposed inside an injector member and is connected to an externally accessible injector member contact by means of a solid conductor, the solid conductor and the electrical valve contact being interconnected directly via an electrically conducting positive connection or indirectly via an electrically conducting connecting element. The solid conductor is configured so as to substantially maintain the shape thereof under the influence of the proper weight thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for the detection of the spectral absorption properties of a fluid in a microenvironment, the apparatus comprising a radiation source, a microfluidic device and detection means, wherein the apparatus additionally comprises means for increasing the path length of the radiation through the fluid. Preferably, the means for increasing the path length of the radiation through the fluid comprises two highly reflective mirrors which cause the base path length through the fluid to be increased by many orders of magnitude, and the method comprises Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy. The method is especially useful for the handling of small volumes of fluids for chemical and biological processing.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of recycling lead from lead containing waste, the method comprising the steps of mixing the battery paste with aqueous citric acid solution so as to generate lead citrate; isolating lead citrate from the aqueous solution; and converting the lead citrate to lead and/or lead oxide.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating a panoramic x-ray image by obtaining volumetric x-ray image data having a first plurality of slices, segmenting the x-ray image data into a first portion above a vertical threshold and a second portion below the vertical threshold, and separating the second portion into a second plurality of slices. Further, the method and the system include generating a plurality of curves for each slice in the second plurality of slices, generating a master arch for the second plurality of slices, and generating a panoramic image based on the master arch.

Abstract: A camera system having a camera lens module, a slip ring connector, and a pan/tilt mechanism. In one construction, the camera system includes a circuit board, a slip ring having a stator connected to the circuit board and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, a camera lens module, and a flexible flat cable. The camera system can also include an anti-rotation arm connected to the rotor and in contact with a first end of the flexible flat cable. The anti-rotation arm can prevent a twist of the flexible flat cable during panning of the camera lens module.

Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC system including programming a thermostat of the HVAC system to define a temperature set point, a temperature differential around the temperature set point, and a number of cycles per hour for a temperature control source of the HVAC system. The method also includes sensing a temperature, executing a cycling control algorithm that includes the temperature, the temperature set point, and the number of cycles per hour as inputs to determine a duty cycle, and running the temperature control source according to the duty cycle when the temperature is within the temperature differential. The method further includes executing a deadband algorithm to turn on the temperature control source when the temperature is outside of the temperature differential at one extreme and to turn off the temperature control source when the temperature is outside the temperature differential at the opposite extreme.

Abstract: A lift assembly system and method can include: a funnel-shaped drum having a constant diameter portion and a gradually increasing diameter portion; a cable management system adapted to position a cable in a single layer in a tray; a beam clamp tube receiver adapted to allow a tube to slide relative to a beam and be secured to the beam; a cable keeper and a slack line detector adapted to maintain cables in position about a drum upon loss of cable tension; a horizontally oriented low profile cable adjuster adapted to adjust the length of a cable; an overspeed braking mechanism; a fleet pivot arm pivotable on the end of a tube so as to guide cables along a desired fleet angle; and/or a pull-type load sensor connected between a tube and a drum adapted to sense changes in a load force and adjust movement of a load.