Abstract: A facemask assembly for a self-contained breathing apparatus includes a facemask configured to be worn by a user, an electronic device connected with the facemask, a microcontroller configured to send signals to the electronic device, an accelerometer coupled with the microcontroller and configured to sense motion of the facemask; and a battery configured to supply power to the electronic device. When motion is detected by the accelerometer, a signal is transmitted to the microcontroller and the microcontroller interprets the electrical signal to selectively adjust the power level supplied to the electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method of simulating and optimizing industrial and other processes includes a computer that performs multivariate analysis of input variables and output variables to generate a data model of the operation of the process. For industrial applications, the input variables include process variables and the output variables include result variables from the operation of the industrial process. The data model determines contributions to changes in the output or result variables by the respective input or process variables and is provided to a predictive algorithm to identify parameter values for input or process variables expected to have a most significant impact on the output or result variables during performance of the process. The outputs of the predictive algorithm are parameter values that are provided as input or process variables to the industrial process for simulation or performance optimization or product recommendations/optimizations.

Abstract: A heads up display (HUD) includes a display source for emitting an emitted image, a windshield and an absorbing polarizer. For substantially normally incident light, the absorbing polarizer substantially transmits the incident light polarized along a pass direction, and substantially absorbs the incident light polarized along a block direction. The emitted image includes at least one image ray that is received and transmitted by the absorbing polarizer toward the windshield at a first location of the absorbing polarizer. The transmitted image ray is received and reflected by the windshield at a second location of the windshield. A first normal line of the absorbing polarizer at the first location is substantially parallel to a projection of the transmitted image ray onto the windshield. Further, the pass direction of the absorbing polarizer at the first location is substantially parallel to a second normal line of the windshield at the second location.

Abstract: Augmented reality-based training systems that can dynamically construct and render AR content based on physical attributes of a user to train the user to correctly fit one or more articles of a personal protective equipment (PPE) onto the user's body. In some examples, an AR system includes a display and a computing device having a memory and one or more processors. The memory can include instructions that, when executed by the processors, simulate a fitting of PPE to a worker. The system can capture an image of a worker, select a digital model of the PPE, determine alignment of the PPE to the worker, and output for display augmented reality content that includes a composite image of the worker overlaid with the digital model of the PPE in accordance with the determined alignment.

Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of first layers disposed on a plurality of polymeric second layers. Each of at least 30% of the first layers includes at least 30% by weight of an inorganic material. For a substantially normally incident light, a blue wavelength range extending from about 420 mn to about 480 m, a green wavelength range extending from about 490 nm to about 560 in, and a red wavelength range extending from about 590 nm to about 670 nm, the optical film and the plurality of second layers have respective average optical reflectances Rof(b) and R2(b) in the blue wavelength range, Rof(g) and R2(g) in the green wavelength range, and Rof(r) and R2(r) in the red wavelength range, where 0?Rof(b)?R2(b)?25%; Rof(g)?R2(g)>30%; and each of Rof(r) and R2(r) is greater than about 60% and |Rof(r)?R2(r)| is less than about 20%.

Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers, such that the first polymeric layers have a smaller average in-plane index of refraction than the second polymeric layers and the first polymeric layers have a glass transition temperature of at least 107 deg. C. The optical film may be a reflective polarizer. An optical stack includes a linear absorbing polarizer and the reflective polarizer disposed on, and bonded to, the absorbing polarizer. The reflective polarizer has an optical reflectance of at least 60% for a first polarization state and an optical transmittance of at least 60% for an orthogonal second polarization state. When heated at 105 deg. C. for 15 minutes, a difference in shrinkage of the reflective polarizer and the absorbing polarizer along the first and second polarization states is greater than about zero and 0.2%, respectively.

Abstract: A polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of functional particles distributed within the polymeric network structure, and wherein the polymer matrix composite has an air flow resistance at 25° C., as measured by the “Air Flow Resistance Test,” of less than 300 seconds/50 cm3/500 micrometers; and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a density of at least 0.3 g/cm3; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as filters.

Abstract: Described herein is a latex coating composition comprising particles of polymer and articles therefrom, wherein at least 60% of interpolymerized monomeric units of the polymer are of formula I, wherein R3 is H or CH3, L is an alkylene group comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, R1 and R2 are independently selected from an alkyl group comprising 1 to 3 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 11 to 21, and A is a counter anion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method can comprise: providing a tool that has a first portion that comprises a first material and a second portion that comprises a second material, wherein the second material differs from the first material and the tool is subject to a magnetic field, and wherein the first material and the second material are provided such that the magnetic field is relatively stronger at and adjacent the first portion relative to the magnetic field at and adjacent the second portion; positioning a surface adjacent to the tool so as to be subject to the magnetic field; and disposing magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface, wherein the magnetizable abrasive particles are attracted to an area on the surface adjacent the first portion where the magnetic field is relatively stronger so as to provide for at least one of a desired orientation, placement and alignment of a majority of the magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface.

Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is a locally-laminated reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the locally-laminated reflective layers may be localized reflective layers.

Abstract: Abrasive articles and associated methods are shown that include one or more camouflaging layers that can be applied to a portion of the abrasive article. The one or more camouflaging layers can be applied over the size coat layer as a discontinuous colored layer covering a portion of the size coat layer. In an example, the camouflaging layer can be applied as a repeating pattern of one or more colors on the abrasive article. In an example, the camouflaging layer can be applied randomly to the abrasive article. The discontinuous layer can have a color markedly different than a color of the size coat layer and can be used to mask or minimize an appearance of particle imperfections or voids on the abrasive article. The discontinuous layer can be applicable to coated and non-woven abrasive articles in the form of sheets, discs, belts, pads, or rolls.

Abstract: Materials and methods useful in forming nano-scale features on substrates, and articles such as optical films incorporating such nano-scale patterned substrates.

Abstract: A system which is composed of a blower unit for a powered air purifying respirator and an electrically powered accessory. The blower unit has a blower device and a battery for powering the blower device. And the accessory is equipped with a power connector. The blower unit provides a power outlet for connection with the power connector. The power connector has a plug. Furthermore the power connector has an unplug lever for retracting the plug for unplugging. The unplug lever and the plug are connected by a pivot joint that forms a pivot axis. The unplug lever forms a handle arm and a counter arm that extend away from the pivot joint in opposite directions.

Abstract: A road obstacle warning system (A) includes a plurality of road units (1) and a power supply means for powering the road unit (1) through a main supply line (7). The road units (1) are disposed one adjacent to another on a road surface and configured to interconnect with each other. The road unit (1) includes a top body (2) and at least two shanks (3). The system (A) also includes at least one lighting element (4) comprising optical parameters for carrying light internally in order to glow the entire lighting element (4). The power supply means include any external power source include a solar power system, a step down power supply, a stored battery power supply or any other generated power supply. The road unit (1) is also powered by a wireless power source through induction means.

Abstract: An optical system (200) includes an emissive display (220) and a reflective polarizer (100) disposed on the display (220). The display (220) includes a blue pixel (222b) emitting light having a peak at a wavelength ?b. For substantially normally incident light: for the wavelength ?b, the reflective polarizer (100) reflects at least 30% of the incident light having a first polarization state (b) and transmits at least 75% of the incident light having an orthogonal second polarization state(a); and for at least one wavelength ?1 greater than ?b, ?1-?b?50 nm, the reflective polarizer (100) transmits at least 75% of the incident light for each of the first and second polarization states. For the wavelength ?b, the reflective polarizer (100) has a maximum optical transmittance Tmax for light incident at a first incident angle, and an optical transmittance Tmax/2 for light incident at a second incident angle greater than the first incident angle by less than about 50 degrees.

Abstract: Filter assemblies are described. In particular, a filter securement assembly for receiving and retaining a filter media in an exhaust hood includes a main panel defining a first end and an opposed second end, a first retainment surface adjacent the first end of the main panel, a first retainment lip adjacent the first retainment surface, a second retainment surface adjacent the second end of the main panel and a second retainment lip adjacent the second retainment surface.

Abstract: A curved reflective has at least one location having a radius of curvature in a range from about 6 mm to about 1000 mm. Each location on the reflective polarizer has a maximum reflectance greater than about 70% for a block polarization state, a maximum transmittance greater than about 70% for an orthogonal pass polarization state, and a minimum transmittance for the block polarization state. For a continuous first portion of the reflective polarizer extending between different first and second edges of the reflective polarizer and defining disjoint second and third portions of the reflective polarizer, the minimum transmittance of the reflective polarizer for the block polarization state is higher at each location in at least 70% of the first portion than at each location in at least 70% of the second portion and at each location in at least 70% of the third portion.

Abstract: A framed air filter that includes air filter media and a frame with four frame portions. At least one corner of the frame is a bonded, non-integral corner at which a stabilizing flap that integrally extends from a first frame portion of a pair of neighboring frame portions that meet to form the non-integral, bonded corner, is affixed to an inner sidewall of a second frame portion of the pair of neighboring frame portions.

Abstract: A radio-wave anti-reflection sheet has a substantially non-tacky first major surface and an opposing substantially tacky second major surface and includes a first polymeric foam layer disposed between the first and second major surfaces, and a second polymeric foam layer disposed between the second major surface and the first polymeric foam layer. The first polymeric foam has a thickness from 0.05 to 3.0 mm and a density from 0.20 to 0.90 g/cm3. The second polymeric foam layer has a thickness from 0.05 to 3.0 mm and a density greater than 0.10 g/cm3 and less than the density of the first polymeric foam layer. A tape includes the radio-wave anti-reflection sheet disposed on a release liner. A vehicle member includes a multilayer substrate and the radio-wave anti-reflection sheet disposed on the multilayer substrate.