Abstract: A rapid-entry shoe having a sole portion, an upper coupled to the sole portion, and a heel bow. The heel bow extends around the rear portion of the shoe and has a heel bow dynamic portion located above an opening topline of the shoe. In an open configuration, the heel bow dynamic portion is pivoted downward to facilitate entry of the foot into the shoe, while in a closed configuration, the heel bow dynamic portion is returned upward to facilitate retention of the foot inside the shoe.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video encoding/decoding. In some examples, an apparatus for video decoding includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives a coded video bitstream including a current picture. The current picture includes a current block. The processing circuitry determines, based on decoded information from the coded video bitstream, that the current block in the current picture is coded in an affine bi-prediction mode. The current block is predicted by a plurality of control point motion vectors. The processing circuitry refines the plurality of control point motion vectors by applying bilateral matching motion refinement, and reconstructs the current block according to the refined plurality of control point motion vectors associated with the current block.

Abstract: A packaging material including one or more expandable layers that provide protection to contents of a packaging enclosure formed with the packaging material. The packaging material includes at least a first layer and a second layer bonded to one another. The first layer is pulled or extended in a first direction that is effective to cause the second layer to expand in a second direction. The second layer is a cut-patterned layer which creates structural strength in the packaging material when expanded.

Abstract: A load control system may be provided including control devices and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to broadcast a service set identifier (SSID) and provide a wireless network connection to a network device. The system controller may provide a web page to the network device, wherein the web page may include an indication of target system controllers. The target system controllers may be used for configuring (e.g., associating) the control devices. The system controller may receive an indication of a target system controller selected to associate the control devices. The system controller may determine an address and port number of the target system controller identified by the network device. The system controller may provide, to the network device, the web page from the target system controller while the network device is connected to the system controller via the wireless network connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various techniques of automatically configuring a repeater system. In one embodiment, the techniques of present disclosure configure the repeater system as a dummy user equipment and connect to a cell served by a base station coupled to the repeater system and establish two-way communication between the repeater system and the base station for determining one or more signaling parameters related to the configuration of the base station. In another non-limiting embodiment, the techniques of the present disclosure operate the repeater system in a listener only mode and perform various signal processing/calculations to determine the one or more signaling parameters related to the configuration of the base station. Once the one or more signaling parameters are determined, the techniques of the present disclosure may configure the repeater system based at least in part on the one or more signaling parameters.

Abstract: A robot can be moved in a structure that includes a plurality of downward-facing cameras, and, as the robot moves, upward images can be captured with an upward-facing camera mounted to the robot. Downward images can be captured with the respective downward-facing cameras. Upward-facing camera poses can be determined at respective times based on the upward images. Further, respective poses of the downward-facing cameras can be determined based on (a) describing motion of the robot from the downward images, and (b) the upward-facing camera poses determined from the upward images.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture, including terminations of or attachments to optical fibers are configured to substantially prevent axial emission and redirect radially most if not all light emanating from optical fibers. In that, a termination may include a fiber cap of a unitary construction of a tube and an optical element disposed to face a sealed end of the tube and dividing a hollow of the tube and having a conical surface, or an optical element dividing the hollow and complemented by a cone. An example of termination includes an optical fiber element having an up-tapered end with a maximum taper-diameter exceeding the core-diameter and ending at a conical element with an apex angle from about 700 to about 100°. Articles of manufacture additionally including mounting contraptions cooperating such terminations with cannulae to form an attachment to a laser system. Methods for transmitting light through such articles of manufacture.

Abstract: The method includes establishing a housing defining chambers, the chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber, each of the chambers being configured to accept a consumable, and configuring a mouthpiece to be selectively connected to the housing on an end of the chambers in at least a first position or a second position, the first position aligning an inlet opening of the mouthpiece to direct at least one first airflow in a first direction through the first chamber and in a second direction through the second chamber, the second position aligning the inlet opening of the mouthpiece to direct the at least one first airflow in the first direction through the second chamber and in the second direction through the first chamber, the first direction and the second direction being substantially opposite directions.

Abstract: Some implementations disclosed herein provide techniques and arrangements to enable translating language characters in media content. For example, some implementations receive a user selection of a first portion of media content. Some implementations disclosed herein may, based on the first portion, identify a second portion of the media content. The second portion of the media content may include one or more first characters of a first language. Some implementations disclosed herein may create an image that includes the second portion of the media content and may send the image to a server. Some implementations disclosed herein may receive one or more second characters of a second language corresponding to a translation of the one or more first characters of the first language from the server.

Abstract: A light inspection system positions an autonomous vehicle (AV) in a field of view of a camera such that the camera captures an image of a light of the AV. The light inspection system instructs a camera to capture an image of the light while the light is switched on. The light inspection system receives the captured image, determines a luminance of the light based on the image, and determines to service the light in response to the luminance of the light being below a threshold luminance.

Abstract: An age of an operator of a vehicle and a light condition in the vehicle are determined. A pattern for display is selected based on the determined age of the operator of the vehicle and the light condition in the vehicle. The pattern is presented on the display on the display. Then the display is adjusted based on input from the vehicle operator in response to the pattern.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display system comprises an OLED array and a power management system that includes at least one voltage generator for the OLED array. A timing microcontroller comprises a decoder/encoder configured to receive HDR pixel data and output display pixel data. A portion of the HDR pixel data is sampled and a luminance index value of the sampled portion is determined, where the luminance index value corresponds to a maximum luminance of the sampled portion. The luminance index value is used to control the at least one voltage generator to reduce power consumption of the OLED display system.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a tongue includes a forming surface of a forming channel, the forming channel configured to enable the shaping of shredded material into a desired form as a shredded material is drawn through the forming channel and an arrangement to introduce at least a portion of a web component adjacent a portion of the forming surface such that the introduced web component portion may be operative upon the drawn shredded material as a source of additional drawing action. The tongue may include an arrangement to draw a moving web into the tongue through a channel that converges with the working surface of the tongue, whereby the moving web is interposable between a moving column of shredded material and the first surface portion of the working surface to reduce friction. The tongue may further comprise an arrangement comprising a scalloped surface portion along the working surface of the tongue.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to a robotic vehicle. An example robotic vehicle has a base platform that includes at least a chassis, an actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The chassis includes a first wheel that is attached to a first section of the chassis and further includes a second wheel attached to a second section of the chassis. The actuator has a proximal end attached to the first section of the chassis and a distal end attached to the second section of the chassis. The sensor is configured to obtain information associated with a stair structure located on a traversal path of the robotic vehicle. The controller evaluates the information obtained by the sensor and operates the actuator to vary a separation distance between the first section of the chassis and the second section of the chassis so as to enable the robotic vehicle to traverse the stair structure.

Abstract: A connector assembly controllably couples a box having a plurality of containers containing a liquid, is provided. Each container has a fitment. The connector assembly includes a housing, a valve assembly, actuator and a locking plate. The valve assembly includes a plurality of fitment receptacles. The actuator is rotatably coupled to the housing and is movable between an open position, a closed position and an engaged position. The locking plate assembly includes a plurality of opening corresponding to each fitment. The opening has a first diameter when the actuator is in the open position. The first diameter of the opening is configured to allow entry of the fitments into the opening. Movement of the actuator from the open position to the closed position closes the opening to a second diameter.

Abstract: A standoff connection structure which is suitable for connecting a standoff connector and a high-voltage electronic box. The standoff connection structure includes at least one anti-rotation feature, and also includes various sealing features to provide a leak-tight connection between a standoff connector and high voltage electronic box, even after exposure to thermal shock. The standoff connector also facilitates an electrical connection between a high voltage or high current component and the high voltage electronic box.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spinal radio frequency neurotomy. Systems include needles capable of applying RF energy to target volumes within a patient. Such target volumes may contain target medial branch nerves along vertebrae or rami proximate the sacrum. Such procedures may be used to ablate or cauterize a portion of the targeted nerve, thus blocking the ability of the nerve to transmit signals to the central nervous system. Disclosed needles may be operable to asymmetrically, relative to a central longitudinal axis of the needle, apply RF energy. Such asymmetry facilitates procedures where a tip of the needle is placed proximate to anatomical structures for location verification. Then RF energy may be applied in a selectable direction relative to the needle tip to ablate volumes that include the targeted medial branch nerves or rami, thus denervating facet joints or the sacroiliac joint, respectively, to relieve pain in a patient.

Abstract: A method of bioprocessing includes the steps of providing a bioreactor vessel having a gas-permeable, liquid impermeable membrane, initiating a flow of gas, and passing the flow of gas across a bottom surface of the membrane to induce a turbulent interaction between the flow of gas and the membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing the voltages between a plurality of battery packs while charging the battery packs. A processing circuit detects the respective voltages across the battery packs and the amount of energy used by a DC load. The processing circuit configures DC-DC converters to draw energy from the battery packs to provide energy to a DC load. The processing circuit configures DC-DC converters to draw more energy from the battery pack having the higher voltage than from the other battery packs to provide the energy to the DC load. Drawing a higher amount of energy from the battery pack having the higher voltage causes the voltage difference between the battery packs to decrease until the voltages across the battery packs are about equal.

Abstract: A system for transferring DC electric power to a DC electric power system includes an electric power source, a DC-DC power converter, a system power bus including a capacitor, a first current sensor, a second current sensor, a third current sensor, and a controller. The DC-DC power converter includes a switched inductance circuit including an inductor, a high-voltage switch, and a diode. The second current sensor monitors a second current in the system power bus between the DC-DC power converter and the capacitor. The controller determines a parametric setpoint for the system power bus, determines the first current, the second current, and the third current in the system power bus, and controls the switching DC-DC power converter based upon the parametric setpoint, the first current, the second current, and the third current.