Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing lubricant basestocks having a reduced or minimized aromatics content. A first processing stage can perform an initial amount of hydrotreating and/or hydrocracking. A first separation stage can then be used to remove fuels boiling range (and lower boiling range) compounds. The remaining lubricant boiling range fraction can then be exposed under hydrocracking conditions to a USY catalyst including a supported noble metal, such as Pt and/or Pd. The USY catalyst can have a desirable combination of catalyst properties, such as a unit cell size of 24.30 or less (or 24.24 or less), a silica to alumina ratio of at least 50 (or at least 80), and an alpha value of 20 or less (or 10 or less). In some aspects, the effluent from the second (hydrocracking) stage can be dewaxed without further separation. In such aspects, a portion of the dewaxed effluent can be used as a recycle quench stream to cool the hydrocracking effluent prior to entering the dewaxing reactor.

Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, the system comprises a frame mounted in sealed relation to a surface. The frame includes movable engagement features and surfaces that mate with an accessory body. A gasket positioned between the frame and a mounting surface seals the space between the frame and the mounting surface from surrounding external elements. The frame may be fastened to the mounting surface with tool-free rivet fasteners, or more conventional threaded fasteners. The assembled accessory body and bezel fit over the frame and the movable engagement features of the frame mate with complementary structures on the accessory body to fix the accessory body to the frame. Openings in the accessory body allow a threaded fastener to secure the movable engagement feature of the frame in the mated position, preventing unintentional disengagement of the accessory body.

Abstract: A capacitive vehicle seat occupancy detection and classification system includes an impedance measurement circuit and a control and evaluation unit. The impedance measurement circuit is configured for providing periodic electrical measurement signals to a capacitive sensor of N different fundamental frequencies, wherein N is a natural number of at least 3, and to determine a complex impedance from each of determined sense currents in the capacitive sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a seat occupancy class for each one of the complex impedances determined at the at least N different fundamental frequencies, and to determine a final seat occupancy class derived by a majority decision among the determined seat occupancy classes.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for reducing startup times of line-mounted fault detectors. A line-mounted fault detector may comprise a power harvesting subsystem and an energy storage subsystem configured to store electrical energy. A fast-start power coupling subsystem may receive power from the energy storage subsystem in a startup state and provide power to a subset of components. A DC-DC converter subsystem may start up after a voltage of the energy storage subsystem exceeds a threshold. A control subsystem may transition the line-mounted fault detector to an operating state once the DC-DC converter has started and may de-energize the fast-start power coupling subsystem. The control system may enable a flow of electrical energy from the DC-DC converter to the fast-start subsystem. A fault detection subsystem in electrical communication with the DC-DC converter subsystem may communicate an indication of a fault via an RF transmitter subsystem.

Abstract: An on-board vehicle navigation system (NAV system) may provide a variety of information and may be integrated with a variety of on-board vehicle systems or features. The NAV system may have the display set to show information about a single system in a full screen mode or have the display divided to show information about multiple systems simultaneously (mixed display mode). The NAV system may allow the user to select an automatic switching from a mixed display mode to a full display mode upon the occurrence of predetermined system conditions. The full display mode may be temporary and automatically return back to the previous display mode or may require a user acknowledgement prior to returning back to the previous display mode. The switch to the full display mode allows more information to be communicated to the user.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning, calibrating, or inspecting an onboard vehicle sensor having an external field of view by providing a calibration component on a support structure for positioning at a short calibration distance of said sensor. The calibration component is configured to appear to the sensor as if it was positioned at a predetermined linear calibration distance from the vehicle which is greater than the actual short calibration distance.

Abstract: Asymmetric membrane structures are provided that are suitable for various types of separations, such as separations by reverse osmosis. Methods for making an asymmetric membrane structure are also provided. The membrane structure can include at least one polymer layer. Pyrolysis can be used to convert the polymer layer to a porous carbon structure with a higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting rotation based on the Sagnac effect is disclosed. Input light having sufficient power is injected into a circulating optical resonator to thereby excite an optomechanical oscillation of the resonator at an instantaneous mechanical angular frequency. Rotation of the circulating optical resonator causes a change in a frequency of the optomechanical oscillation of the resonator, which in turn causes the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency to change. The optomechanical oscillation produces modulation sidebands in the resonating optical field at the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency and harmonics thereof, which are demodulated from the optical frequency by detection in a photodetector. Differences in the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency induced by rotation are detected by processing the photodetector output signal.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a semiconductor device package. The semiconductor device package includes a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a second substrate adjacent to the first surface of the first substrate, and an encapsulant encapsulating the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate defines a space. The second substrate covers the space. The second surface of the first substrate is exposed by the encapsulant. A surface of the encapsulant is coplanar with the second surface of the first substrate or protrudes beyond the second surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: A test apparatus includes a first insulation housing, a second insulation housing configured to be coupled to the first insulation housing, and a test board including a first portion and a second portion. The first insulation housing and the second insulation housing are configured to cover the first portion of the test board and to expose the second portion of the test board.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forwarding a heterogeneous protocol message, and a network switching device are provided, the method includes: receiving a network message; parsing the network message to obtain a destination address of the network message; looking up in a preset forwarding table a port corresponding to the destination address and a first protocol corresponding to the port; judging whether the first protocol matches a second protocol of the network message; performing, if not, protocol conversion on the network message in accordance with a preset conversion rule, so that the protocol type of the network message matches the port; forwarding the protocol-converted network message through the port. In the present disclosure, protocol conversion can be performed on messages from different protocol networks, so that the network switching device implements communication between different networks, and has a flexible protocol processing mode and powerful scalability.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to detection of a broken conductor in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a broken conductor detector may be configured to be mounted to an electrical conductor and may comprise a communication subsystem configured to transmit a signal configured to indicate that the conductor is broken. A sensor may determine an operating vector. A processing subsystem may be configured to receive the operating vector from the sensor and to identify when the operating vector is outside of a range defined by a rest vector and a threshold value. In certain embodiments, the threshold may comprise a three-dimensional sphere. The processing subsystem may determine that the conductor is broken based on the operating vector remaining outside of the range for a period of time determined by the timer subsystem. A signal may be transmitted by the communication subsystem to indicate that the conductor is broken.

Abstract: Various examples of transferring a watercraft between land and water are disclosed. When a vehicle receives a transfer signal, the vehicle locates a launch ramp, and the vehicle moves to the launch ramp. A trailer attached to the vehicle moved into the water using the launch ramp, such that a watercraft can be transferred between land and water via the trailer.

Abstract: A method of screening a hydrocarbon stream for potential toxicological hazards. The method involves providing a hydrocarbon stream; conducting 2-dimensional gas chromatography (2D-GC) analysis to quantify saturates and aromatic distribution in the hydrocarbon stream; identifying 2-8 ring aromatic distribution and weight percentage of 2-8 ring aromatic molecules in the hydrocarbon stream from the 2D-GC analysis; relating the weight percentage of 2-8 ring aromatic molecules in the hydrocarbon stream from the 2D-GC analysis to a mutagenicity index (MI), in which the MI is determined in accordance with ASTM Standard Method E 1687; and assessing a potential toxicological hazard of the hydrocarbon stream based on the weight percentage of 2-8 ring aromatic molecules in the hydrocarbon stream from the 2D-GC analysis and a MI threshold value. The 2-8 ring aromatic distribution preferably includes 3-6 ring aromatics, more preferably 3.5-5.5 ring aromatics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cooling device which utilizes both thermoelectric and magnetocaloric mechanisms for enhanced cooling applications. Using high thermal conductivity magnetocaloric composites in conjunction with thermoelectric elements acting as thermal switches which are electrically coupled to a magnetization and demagnetization cycle enables the use of larger quantities of magnetocaloric material, and high efficiency solid state cooling can be achieved. Solid state cooling devices are useful for a variety of industrial applications which require cooling, such as, but not limited to cooling of microelectronic devices, cooling on space platforms, etc.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate generally to endoscopic systems, devices, and methods. The system may include a main body, actuation control members, navigation section, and anchor assembly. Navigation section includes distal termination points for receiving actuation control members. Navigation section is selectively controllable to bend. Anchor assembly includes first expandable member, second expandable member, and pressure openings. First expandable member transitions between an expanded and non-expanded configuration. Distal side wall of first expandable member includes first protrusions. Second expandable member transitions between an expanded and non-expanded configuration. Proximal side wall of second expandable member includes second protrusions. First and second protrusions are configurable to cooperatively form a sieve portion. Connector assembly includes connector assembly body and connector interface portion.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments for a rear bumper snow and ice shield. In an embodiment, a corrosion prevention device may be mounted on a vehicle. The corrosion prevention device may comprise a shield, a support, a mechanism, a left rail, and a right rail. The shield may comprise a left protrusion on a left end, a right protrusion on a right end, a front end, and a rear end. The support may comprise an upper end supporting the shield, and a lower end. The mechanism may be configured to secure the support in a raised position and further configured to secure the support in a lowered position. The lower end of the support may be in contact with the mechanism. The left protrusion may be housed within the left rail and the right protrusion may be housed within the right rail.