Abstract: A draw cord engagement system and method are disclosed herein. The draw cord engagement system, in an embodiment, includes a support, a cord holder moveably coupled to the support, a first engager moveably coupled to the support, and a second engager moveably coupled to the support. The draw cord engagement system is configured to enable a first repositioning of the first engager relative to the second engager, resulting in a first setting. The draw cord engagement system is also configured to enable a second repositioning of at least the second engager relative to the support while the first setting remains unchanged.

Abstract: A polarity switching hybrid interface is configured to couple both optical fibers and electrical conductors. The hybrid interface incorporates polarity switching circuitry such that the polarity of electrical contacts on a first side of the hybrid interface is opposite to the polarity of the electrical contacts on an opposite side of the hybrid interface. As such, the polarity of the electrical conductors coupled to each side of the hybrid interface need not be known. Each side of the hybrid interface is configured to interface with the same type of hybrid optical/electrical connector.

Abstract: Provided is a device for insertion into a heeled shoe, having a rear region positioned to underlying a wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, the rear region being shaped to accommodate a planer surface of the wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, an upper surface of said rear region having a raised portion underlying an area of the wearer's calcaneus immediately forward of the wearer's calcaneus tuberosity; and a forward region positioned to underlie at least a portion of the shafts of the wearer's metatarsals, the second upper surface of said forward region having a raised portion which gradually rises to an apex position to underlie the shafts of the wearer's second and third metatarsals.

Abstract: Representative embodiments disclose mechanisms for presenting content into a virtual reality or augmented reality (VR/AR) system in a manner that does not distract the user from their primary workflow in the VR/AR system. The system monitors a user's workflow in a virtual reality or augmented reality (VR/AR) system. Based on the user's workflow, the user's emotional state, and other data, the system selects one or more bots to inject into the user's workflow. The bots provide content and functional extensibility for the system and/or the VR/AR system. Content from the selected bot(s) is identified and placed in a location that is in the periphery of the user at a low rendering fidelity. If the user shows interest in the content, the fidelity of the content is increased until the user can interact with the content, using the functionality provided by the bot.

Abstract: A light fixture that can be built upon itself to scale up or down the lumen output. More specifically, embodiments of the light fixture include an electronic housing flanked on each side with one or more light modules. The fixture can be tailored to the light needs of particular applications by adding or removing light modules from the fixture.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product for preventing initiation of a voice recognition session. The method includes monitoring at least one audio output channel for at least one audio trigger phrase that initiates a voice recognition session. The method further includes in response to detecting the at least one audio trigger phrase on the at least one audio output channel, setting a logic state of at least one output trigger detector of the at least one audio output channel to a first state. The method further includes gating a logic state of at least one input trigger detector of at least one audio input channel to the first state for a time period and preventing initiation of a voice recognition session by the at least one audio trigger phrase on the at least one audio input channel while the logic state is the first state.

Abstract: An illumination device and method are provided for controlling light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs (specifically, the LED loads) are controlled, e.g., brightness and color of the LED loads, independent of a phase-cut dimmer applied to the AC mains feeding a DC power supply. The power supply is active dependent upon the duration of a conduction angle supplied from the dimmer. The power supply, however, produces drive currents that are independent from the conduction angle by using a two-stage power supply and a relatively slow and fast control loops that are controlled through a microprocessor based control circuit. Parameters stored in the control circuit are drawn by the microprocessor to control the two-stage power supply to produce the drive currents independent and decoupled from the conduction angle yet dependent on the controller parameters.

Abstract: Devices, system and methods for deforming body channels are disclosed herein. At least some embodiments described may be used to deform a body channel so as to decrease or prevent the normal intrachannel flow of material within the body channel. Such deformation may be used to treat such maladies as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Abstract: A method of operating an auto-braking system of a vehicle in coordination with operation of a speed limiting system (SLS) of the vehicle to prevent undesired loss of auto-braking functionality. If: a) a driver input of an engine power control parameter (such as throttle setting) exceeds an activation threshold of the SLS so that the SLS is therefore limiting vehicle speed to a set-speed corresponding to the activation threshold; and b) the driver input of the power control parameter is below a SLS override threshold; and c) the SLS override threshold exceeds an auto-braking override threshold for the power control parameter; then the auto-braking override threshold is increased to at least equal the SLS override threshold. The speed limiter activation threshold may be determined from speed limit information supplied by a vehicle navigation system of by an image evaluating unit from images obtained by a camera of the vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided, comprising: configuring code to cause at least part of hardware to operate as a double data rate (DDR) memory controller and to produce one or more capture clocks, where: a timing of at least one of the one or more capture clocks is based on a first clock signal of a first clock, the first clock signal is a core clock signal or a signal derived from at least the core clock signal, the at least one of the one or more capture clocks is used to time a read data path, the at least one of the one or more capture clocks is used to capture read data into a clock domain related to a second clock, the first clock and the second clock being related in timing such that at least one of: the second clock is derived from the first clock, or the first clock is derived from the second clock; and providing access to the code.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for consuming, transforming and generating verified data sets. A verified data management system receives, from a client device, a request to generate a verified data set, and in response, accesses available verified data for a user associated with the client device. The verified data management system causes presentation of a listing of the available verified data on the client device and receives a selection of a subset of the available verified data to be included in the verified data set. The verified data management system generates the verified data set based on the subset of the available verified data and generates a unique identifier for the verified data set. The verified data management system provides the unique identifier to the client device, thereby enabling access of the verified data set.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof directed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) surface determinant antigens and secreted toxins are disclosed. Methods of detecting, diagnosing and treating S. aureus using the antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof are also provided.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that include obtaining first camera images from a first camera onboard a first vehicle; generating, via one or more computer processors, a first situation awareness graph with respect to objects near the first vehicle, using the first camera images; obtaining second camera images from a second camera of a second device that is in proximity to the first vehicle; generating, via one or more computer processors, a second situation awareness graph with the respect to the objects, using the second camera images; and generating, via one or more computer processor, a global situation awareness graph with respect to the objects, by merging the first situation awareness graph with the second situation awareness graph, using respective first and second weights for the first and second situation awareness graphs.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding a digital video to improve perceptual quality. The method includes receiving a digital video at a video encoder, providing a perceptual quantizer function defined by PQ ? ( L ) = ( c 1 + c 2 ? L m 1 1 + c 3 ? L m 1 ) m 2 , wherein L is a luminance value, c1, c2, c3, and m1 are parameters with fixed values, and m2 is a parameter with a variable value, adapting the perceptual quantizer function by adjusting the value of the m2 parameter based on different luminance value ranges found within a coding level of the digital video, encoding the digital video into a bitstream using, in part, the perceptual quantizer function, transmitting the bitstream to a decoder, and transmitting the value of the m2 parameter to the decoder for each luminance value range in the coding level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using wireless networks to support a variety of school related operations including attendance record keeping, student class work assignment receipt and student test answer result receipt are described. Short range wireless signals transmitted in an area corresponding to a class session are used to facilitate verification of a student's presence in the class. Students submit attendance messages, test answer messages and/or work corresponding to an assignment wirelessly with the submission message or attendance message including information from a short range wireless signal received by the student device along with student authentication information such as a captured image or fingerprint obtained from the student at the time of submission or attendance message transmission. Based on the information in a received message the network node authenticates the student and that it was submitted from the area of the class. Records are updated based on received message content.

Abstract: A DL signal including a plurality of SS blocks can be received. At least one SS block can be detected from the plurality of SS blocks. A SS block can be selected from the detected at least one SS block. A SS block can be selected from at least one SS block detected from the plurality of SS blocks. A subset of RACH resources and a subset of RACH preambles associated with the selected SS block can be identified. A RACH resource can be selected from the subset of RACH resources and a RACH preamble can be selected from the subset of RACH preambles. The selected RACH preamble can be transmitted on the selected RACH resource. An RA-RNTI can be determined based on at least the selected RACH resource. At least a PDSCH including a RAR message can be received. The PDSCH can be based on the selected SS block and based on the determined RA-RNTI.

Abstract: A dual platform bumper system for a vehicle includes a bumper configured to couple to one of the door or another vehicle component, the bumper having first and second points of contact, and a platform configured to couple to the other of the door and the other vehicle component. The platform includes an upper contact platform and a lower contact platform. The upper contact platform is configured to contact the first point of contact when the door is moved to a closed position, and the lower contact platform is configured to contact the second point of contact when the door is moved to the closed position to facilitate preventing over-travel relative movement of the at least one door.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently restoring synthetic full backup based virtual machines that include user checkpoints. Specifically, the method and system disclosed herein overcome a behavioral limitation exhibited in present virtual machine backup methodologies, where said methodologies ignore the presence of user checkpoints storing state for a virtual machine. In accounting for the user checkpoints while recovering a virtual machine, embodiments of the invention maintain restoration points for virtual machine state instantiated by the user, in addition to those instantiated by the system.

Abstract: A multi-material golf shaft having a butt portion joined to a tip portion and possessing unique relationships, including rigidity relationships, which provide beneficial performance characteristics including improved stability.