Abstract: Arrangements relate to determining a driving action for an autonomous vehicle. An exit event along a current road of a travel route of the autonomous vehicle can be identified. At least one forward vehicle between the autonomous vehicle and the exit event can be detected. A driving action to take relative to the at least one forward vehicle can be determined based on one or more inputs. Such inputs can include a determined availability or unavailability of passing the at least one forward vehicle and/or a determined sufficiency or insufficiency of distance between the at least one forward vehicle and the exit event. The autonomous vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving action. The driving action can be, for example, remaining behind the at least one forward vehicle, passing the at least one forward vehicle or prompting an occupant of the autonomous vehicle to select a driving action.

Abstract: A seal backup ring assembly is provided that eliminates fluid differential pressure acting radially on the backup ring, preventing collapse of the backup ring against a shaft. The backup ring is assembled so that the initial clearance (extrusion gap) between the backup ring and relatively rotating member is not affected by the differential pressure acting across the assembly. This allows for an initially small extrusion gap to be present throughout the differential pressure range.

Abstract: A method for apprising a driver to a change in automation level of an automated self-drive system for a vehicle includes identifying an expected automation level change and communicating a required engagement level. The driver is thereby apprised of an appropriate level of engagement with each of a multiple of manual vehicle controls.

Abstract: An inkjet printer capable of suppressing a reduction in adsorption power relative to media as compared to the related art is provided. The inkjet printer includes a medium adsorbing device that has a medium adsorbing unit for adsorbing a medium, and an inkjet head that faces a portion of the medium adsorbing unit with a medium interposed therebetween. The medium adsorbing unit has a plurality of suction holes for sucking gas in order to adsorb a medium on an adsorption surface positioned on a side of the inkjet head. The medium adsorbing unit has a printing section and a downstream side adjacent section on a side of the adsorption surface. In the printing section, printing is performed on each medium by the inkjet head.

Abstract: A system and a method for a hybrid vehicle for pre-charging the battery. A hybrid vehicle includes a battery having a state of charge (SOC), an engine configured to charge the battery, an actuation device having an on state and an off state, and a processor configured to activate the engine to charge the battery when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the SOC reaches a required SOC. The required SOC may be input by a driver and may exceed a normal maximum SOC utilized by the hybrid vehicle. The pre-charge feature can override the normal hybrid vehicle battery management logic. The required SOC allows the driver to perform reverse maneuvers without running out of battery power.

Abstract: An automobile having an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon a user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the state of charge (SOC) is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the SOC is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The automobile can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.

Abstract: A method for the characterization of a sheet metal forming product uses the correlation of material flow data to a priori calculated or measured data. It determines whether the product falls within the acceptable production limits in terms of quality, areas of potential defects and an approximation of the process parameters prevailing during its production. The characterization is performed in real-time during production, tool deployment or try-out. The method includes the steps of: providing physical dimensions of an actual sheet metal part; a feature extractor computing, from these physical dimensions, a measured material flow metric representative of the geometry of the part after the forming operation; and a matching unit determining, from reference data and the measured material flow metric, a matching forming operation data set whose associated simulated material flow metric most closely matches the measured material flow metric.

Abstract: The cup holder assembly adapted to retain an object includes a retainer formed of a flexible material. The retainer includes a first upper edge, a first bottom wall, and a first side wall. The first upper edge defines a first open end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the first bottom wall. The first side wall extends between the first bottom wall and the first upper edge to define a frustoconical shape. The first side wall deforms outwardly upon insertion of the object to provide frictional resistance to retain an upright orientation of the object.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier delivers to a load an output signal related to an input, typically with increased power. As the power output, volume, or gain of the amplifier is changed, so may the spectral characteristics of the signal. In order to maintain the desired spectral or tonal character of the output signal over the dynamic range of output power, biasing of the amplifier must be adjusted. Particular ratios of drive and bias currents and/or voltages for different implementations of amplifier technologies should be relatively constant to produce substantially invariant input-output spectral relationships from low power output through high power output settings. Several techniques are presented which provide these relationship in amplifiers.

Abstract: A printed wiring board includes an insulator substrate, an electrical conductor at least partially embedded in the insulator substrate, and a thermal conductor at least partially embedded in the insulator substrate. The printed wiring board also includes a temperature-insensitive component mounting region and a temperature-sensitive component mounting region. The insulator substrate and the thermal conductor are arranged into a targeted heat transfer region proximate to the temperature-sensitive component mounting region and a bulk region at positions spaced apart from the temperature-sensitive component mounting region.

Abstract: Arrangements relate to the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle. A splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle can be detected. An object near the vehicle can be detected. Further, it can be determined whether the detected object is passing the vehicle. Responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining that the object is passing the vehicle, a warning can be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A foldable tonneau cover is disclosed and has two frame sections and at least one hidden-type hinge. Two frame members of two adjacent frame sections are correspondingly formed with two embedded holes. The hidden-type hinge is pivotally connected between the adjacent frame members. When the frame sections are horizontally extended relative to each other, the hidden-type hinge is substantially received in the embedded holes. When the frame sections are rotated or folded relative to each other, the hidden-type hinge is partially exposed out of the embedded holes. Thus, the occupied space of the hidden-type hinge and the gap between the adjacent frame sections can be minimized. The waterproof flexible strip can be continuously extended along the entire length of the two adjacent frame members without being interfered with by the hidden-type hinge substantially hidden within frame members, so as to enhance the waterproof reliability thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock absorber system for a vehicle comprising a main unit (100) adapted to be deformed in the event of an impact with a first energy level and a secondary unit (200) shorter in length than the main unit (100), adapted to be subjected to loads as a complement of the main unit (100), after a first deformation phase of the main unit (100), when the system receives an impact with a second energy level greater than the first, the secondary unit (200) being configured to orient the resultant of a force applied on a downstream structure (30) in a direction not parallel to the longitudinal axis of this downstream structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rectifying circuit for high-frequency power supply that rectifies an alternating voltage at a high frequency equal to or higher than 2 MHz, the rectifying circuit for high-frequency power supply including a current doubler rectifier circuit that rectifies the alternating voltage inputted from a reception antenna for power transmission 10, a partial resonant circuit that causes the current doubler rectifier circuit to perform partial resonant switching in a switching operation at the time of rectification, a matching functional circuit that has a function of matching a resonance condition to that of the reception antenna for power transmission 10, and a function of matching the resonance condition to that of the partial resonant circuit, and a smoothing functional circuit that smooths the voltage rectified by the current doubler rectifier circuit into a direct voltage.

Abstract: A process for preparing a blend having a styrene resin and a polyphenylene ether in a co-rotating twin screw processor is described. A blend having a styrene resin and a polyphenylene ether is also described. A co-rotating screw processor for preparing a blend having a styrene resin and a polyphenylene ether comprising two processing zones is also described.

Abstract: A system and method for refurbishing an internal surface of an article of manufacture includes a sputtering unit. The internal surface of the article of manufacture defines an internal cavity. The sputtering unit includes an electrode assembly coupled to a sealing portion. The refurbishing method begins with preparing the internal surface to remove physical damage and contamination. Next, the sputtering unit is interfaced with the article by extending the electrode assembly into the cavity and sealing the sputtering unit to the article with the sealing portion. The internal surface of the article then defines a boundary of a sputtering chamber. A dimensional value is provided that is related to an internal dimension of the cavity. Finally the sputtering unit is operated to deposit material onto the internal surface based upon the provided dimensional value.

Abstract: The tabletting system (1) comprises a rotary tablet press (6) with a tablet press feeder (67). A first material feeder (21) and a second material feeder (22) are connected to a blender (4) with an inlet end (40) and a discharge end (45). The discharge end (45) of the blender is in close connection with the tablet press. The inlet end (40) of the blender (4) is positioned at a level (u) higher than the level (v) of the discharge end (45) in the vertical direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring image recognition accuracy are provided. One embodiment of a method includes locating an identifier in an environment, where the identifier is configured according to a predetermined format and where the identifier identifies an actual characteristic of an object. Some embodiments of the method include locating the object in the environment, determining a perceived characteristic of the object, and determining, from the identifier, the actual characteristic of the object. Similarly, some embodiments include comparing the actual characteristic of the object with the perceived characteristic of the object, determining whether the actual characteristic of the object substantially matches the perceived characteristic of the object and, in response to determining that the actual characteristic of the object does not substantially match the perceived characteristic of the object, determining a change to make for improving image recognition.

Abstract: A resonant type high frequency power supply device provided with a power semiconductor element that performs a switching operation, the resonant type high frequency power supply device including a high frequency pulse drive circuit that transmits a pulse-shaped voltage signal having a high frequency exceeding 2 MHz to the power semiconductor element to drive the above-mentioned power semiconductor element, a variable pulse signal generating circuit that transmits a pulse-shaped voltage signal having a high frequency exceeding 2 MHz to the high frequency pulse drive circuit to drive the above-mentioned high frequency pulse drive circuit, and a bias power supply circuit that supplies driving power to both the variable pulse signal generating circuit and the high frequency pulse drive circuit.

Abstract: A system for providing environmental feedback including one or more processors and a tactile input hardware. The tactile input hardware is communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The system further includes one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, one or more sensing devices communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive environmental information from the one or more sensing devices, receive a gestural input on the tactile input hardware, and generate feedback regarding a subset of the environmental information acquired by the one or more sensing devices in response to the gestural input received on the tactile input hardware.