Abstract: Portable devices having multiple power interfaces are described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device includes, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform one or more functions, a battery coupled to provide power to the processor and the memory, and a battery charging manager coupled to charge the battery using power derived from a plurality of power sources including a solar power source. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: This is directed to a power adapter plug arm manufactured from a single piece of material. The plug arm can include a plug operative to extend into a wall socket, an elongated plate coupled to an end of the plug such that the plug extends from a first surface of one end of the plate, and a pin coupled to the opposite end of the plate and extending from the opposite surface of the plate. The pin can be operative to engage a circuit board of the power adapter to provide power received from the wall socket to an electronic device coupled to the power adapter. To enhance the strength of the plug arm, the plate can be manufactured by creating a co-axial plug and a stem from a single piece of material, bending the stem, and cold heading the bent portion of the stem to form a plate. Because the cold heading process involves cold working the material, the arm and in particular the bridge member at the interface between the plate and the stem can become stronger as a result of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A sound damper for compressed air systems of vehicles includes a housing, an insulator and at least one web. The housing has an air inlet and an air outlet. The insulator is located in the housing, and the web is located in the housing such that it protrudes at least partially into the insulator. Air that flows through the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet is conducted by the web into the insulator.

Abstract: A shoe wear out sensor includes at least one detector for sensing a physical metric that changes as a sole of a shoe wears out, a processor configured to process the physical metric over time to determine if the shoe is worn out, and an alarm for informing a user of the shoe when the sole is worn out. A body bar sensing system includes a housing with at least one detector for sensing a physical metric that indicates a repetition movement of the housing when attached to the body bar, a processor for processing the physical metric over time to determine repetitions thereof, and a display for informing a user of the repetitions. A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor.

Abstract: Several mechanical features of an electronic device are provided. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a bezel coupled to a housing. The bezel may include one or more snaps extending into the electronic device which may be operative to engage a cantilever spring extending from the inner surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a window that is formed by coupling an outer layer to an inner layer that is larger than the outer layer. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a chassis for supporting the window. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a grounding clip for simultaneously grounding the bezel, the housing and a circuit board. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a switch that includes a button molded into a base using a double shot process. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a switch supporting bracket that includes a slot operative to receive a pin of the bezel.

Abstract: An electronic device can play back media items using a random playback mode. To ensure that related media items are played back in a proper order (e.g., live music is played back in concert order), the electronic device can define metadata or other data coupling related media items in a predefined or preset sequence. For example, related media items can include metadata tags identifying the previous and next media items to play back in the sequence. As another example, the electronic device can store a listing of media items of a sequence and the order in which to play them back. When the electronic device reaches a media item that is part of a preset sequence during random playback, the electronic device can identify at least the subsequent media items in the sequence, and insert the subsequent media items in the playback queue. The electronic device can then play back the entire sequence before moving to the next media item in the playback queue.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a NAND-type non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as NAND flash memory, to store NV pre-boot information for a bootloader (e.g., a second state bootloader) or an operating system. The NV pre-boot information can include, for example, environment variables storing the configuration or state of an electronic device. In some embodiments, an electronic device including the NAND-type NVM may allocate a portion of the super blocks in the NAND-type NVM to storing the NV pre-boot information. The electronic device may store a redundant copy of the NV pre-boot information into the allocated portion of each IC die of the NAND-type NVM.

Abstract: This is generally directed to systems and methods for control of two or more devices through a shared control bus. For example, the devices can be coupled to a host system through the control bus. In some embodiments, the devices can be configured by the host system through address select pins of the devices. For example, the host system can sequentially program each device to change its default address to a unique address. In some embodiments, an event can be propagated through each device, thus resulting in each device receiving the event at a different time. In some embodiments, configuration by the host system can include programming each device with a value representing its own position in the chain. In this case, a device can use this value to delay its response to the event, thereby allowing all the devices in the chain to respond to the event simultaneously.

Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with switch assembly input components that can have adhesives adhered to the side and/or bottom surfaces of support plates for retaining switches between the adhesives and the tops of the support plates. The switch assembly input components can include buttons with one or more absorption elements for receiving impact energy, reducing the impact energy, and transferring the reduced impact energy onto the switches.

Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle includes a parking brake with an air-quantity-boosting-valve device for aerating and deaerating at least one spring brake cylinder of the parking brake, at least one electrically actuatable control valve for controlling the air-quantity-boosting-valve device, an electrical control device electrically coupled to the electrically actuatable control valve for controlling the electrically actuatable control valve, and an electrical actuating device coupled to the control device for actuating the parking brake. In order to be able to resort to available series-produced components, the air-quantity-boosting-valve device, the control valve, the electrical control device and the actuating device are, in each case, embodied as autonomous components arranged spatially separate from one another.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the importance of each of the variables that contribute to the overall score of a model for predicting the profitability of an insurance policy. For each variable in the model, an importance is calculated based on the calculated slope and deviance of the predictive variable. Since the score is developed using complex mathematical calculations combining large numbers of parameters with predictive variables, it is often difficult to interpret from the mathematical formula for example, why some policyholders receive low scores while other receive high scores. Such clear communication and interpretation of insurance profitability scores is critical if they are used by the various interested insurance parties including policyholders, agents, underwriters, and regulators.

Abstract: Systems for harnessing power through electromagnetic induction utilizing printed coils are provided. A system can include one or more moveable magnets adjacent to printed coils on a circuit. For example, a system can include one or more magnets that are operative to move alongside a circuit board that includes printed coils. The one or more magnets may move, for example, when a user shakes the system or when the user walks or runs while holding the device. The movement of the one or more magnets may create an electromotive force (e.g., a voltage) across the printed coils, and this force may be used to generate electric power.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a remote wand controlling the operations of the electronic device is provided. The wand may include a motion detection component operative to provide an output reflecting the motion of the wand to the electronic device, such that the movements of a cursor displayed by the electronic device may be related to the output of the motion detection component. The wand may also include an input mechanism operative to receive user inputs. Using the input mechanism, the wand may detect a user's inputs and direct the electronic device to zoom or scroll displayed objects. The electronic device may display a screen saver by which the user may select particular media items for playback while remaining in the screen saver mode. In some embodiments, the electronic device may display video with a scroll bar that includes a preview window of the video.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing a rendered drawing or rendering from a detailed image of an object (e.g. photograph) resulting in a rendering that is photogrammetric and that preserves detail in the said image of said object. The combination of the metric nature and image detail preservation in a rendering resulting from the process enhances the usefulness of the rendering to users. The invention is useful in particular for large format renderings such as wire frame style drawings used for blueprints in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC industry) when used for existing structures. The processes combine graphic arts techniques with photogrammetric techniques to preserve, fully or partially, information about an object as captured in image detail of said object and to present said information in photogrammetrically correct rendering, which rendering may be incorporated into drawings useful to and/or familiar to end users of said drawings.

Abstract: This is directed to processing inputs received from an input mechanism to control media playback operations and volume. The input mechanism can include a first button providing inputs by shorting an electrical circuit, and a second button providing inputs by changing the resistance or tone detected or received by a processor. To process inputs, a processor can first detect and process short events from the first button, and subsequently process button events from the second button.

Abstract: A driver assistance system includes a sensor for sensing the speed of a first vehicle equipped with the system, a sensor for detecting a vehicle traveling ahead, a sensor for determining the speed of the vehicle ahead, at least one driving-data sensor for sensing driving data characteristics, and an electronic controller programmed to trigger autonomous braking of the first vehicle when predetermined brake-trigger driving data exist, and to end the autonomous braking when predetermined driving data for terminating braking exist. In effecting termination of autonomous braking, the electronic controller is programmed to determine whether the sensor for detecting vehicles ahead is transmitting signals (i.e., is operational) but is not detecting any vehicle traveling ahead, and, if the sensor is operational and no vehicle traveling ahead is detected, to terminate autonomous braking when the speed of the first vehicle is less than the most recently determined speed of the vehicle ahead.

Abstract: An electropneumatic control arrangement for an automatic vehicle level control system, particularly of a commercial vehicle, includes at least; a solenoid valve unit having at least two electropneumatic solenoid valves, a compressed air inlet for infeeding compressed air, at least one compressed air connection for at least one air bellows and electrical control inputs, and an electronic control unit for actuating the solenoid valve unit. The electronic control unit comprises control outputs for electrically connecting to the control inputs of the solenoid valve unit. A plug connector is configured on the housing of the solenoid valve unit, in which the electrical control inputs are disposed, and a plug connector is provided on the housing of the electronic control unit, in which the control outputs are disposed. The plug connectors are mechanically plugged into each other.

Abstract: Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for connecting together two audio components that have different size connectors and/or a different configuration of electrical contacts between them. In one embodiment of the present invention, an audio adaptor is designed having an audio plug of one size to mate with a first electrical device, such as an integrated mediaphone such as the iPhone™, and an audio jack having a different size to mate with a second electrical device, such as a conventional cell phone headset having a single earpiece. In that instance, the plug would be a four-prong, 3.5 millimeter stereo device, while the jack would be a three-prong, 2.5 millimeter monaural device. The adaptor includes circuitry that takes one audio channel (i.e., the left or right channel), and couples it to the audio input on the monaural jack.