Abstract: A covering for a wall of a vehicle cargo bed includes a first portion structured to be attached to a top portion of the wall, and a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion. The first portion has a first surface, and the second portion has a first surface. The second portion is rotatable between a first orientation in which the second portion first surface resides directly opposite the first portion first surface and faces in a first direction toward the first portion first surface, and a second orientation in which the second portion first surface faces in a second direction opposite the first direction. A shoulder extends from an edge of the second portion at an angle with respect to the second portion first surface.

Abstract: A vehicle may communicate with a vendor interaction system of a vendor. The vehicle includes network interface hardware, a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware, and at least one display communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The processor executes logic to establish a communication link with the vendor interaction system, receive, with the network interface hardware, a vendor data signal from the vendor interaction system, the vendor data signal indicative of vendor information, receive, with the network interface hardware, a user preference data signal indicative of user order preferences for the vendor, display at least one of the user order preferences and the vendor information on the at least one display, and display an order prompt requesting a user to make an order selection from at least one of the vendor information or the user order preferences displayed on the at least one display.

Abstract: An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to determine air flow through an air filter and/or a plurality of air filters. The present invention utilizes a demonstration apparatus to illustrate the differences in air flow and air restriction between a plurality of different air filters and filtration media. The apparatus and system utilizes a common plenum which subjects the plurality of air filters to the same differential pressure. The air flows through a first side of the air filter and is measured on the second side of the air filter by utilizing a wind meter or similar device to gauge the amount of air flow velocity of the second side of the filter. Additionally, the apparatus and system utilizes a display means to illustrate the differing air velocity through the second side of the air filter.

Abstract: An impregnation test apparatus includes: (1) a main body portion including a stage part having a recessed part in which an object to be impregnated is mounted, a bottom part of the recessed part provided with a plurality of through holes, an upper lid part mounted on the stage part, the upper lid part provided with a plurality of through holes in a parallel direction to the through holes, and a hollow part formed therein by mounting the upper lid part on the stage part, (2) an impregnation liquid supply portion connected to the main body portion and supplying the impregnation liquid to the hollow part of the main body portion through the through hole formed in the stage part, and (3) a fixing mechanism fixing the object to be impregnated mounted on the stage part into the hollow part by mounting the upper lid part on the stage part.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor system outputting one or more signals and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor system. The electronic control unit may be configured to detect a target vehicle external to the vehicle based on the one or more signals output by the sensor system, identify the detected target vehicle, determine rating information for at least one of the target vehicle and a driver of the target vehicle, predict at least one action of the target vehicle based on the rating information, and effect one or more changes to the vehicle based on the predicted at least one action of the target vehicle.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a first dielectric layer, a first patterned conductive layer disposed in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a first bump pad disposed in the second dielectric layer. The first bump pad is electrically connected to the first patterned conductive layer, and the first bump pad has a curved surface surrounded by the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission, a vehicular powertrain that includes a continuously variable transmission and a method of limiting belt slippage in a continuously variable transmission in a vehicle. The continuously variable transmission includes a pulley assembly, shafts, a clutch and hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is cooperative with both the clutch and the pulley assembly so that hydraulic pressures and associated clamping forces sent to both allow the clutch to preferentially absorb any driving load coming from the axle and wheels that is in excess of the normal load experienced at the continuously variable transmission. This in turn means that any additional load that would ordinarily cause slippage in the belt is instead experienced by the clutch.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for publishing time-synchronized information. In one embodiment, a system may include a time interface configured to receive a common time signal and a network interface configured to transmit a plurality of data packets using a network. A publishing subsystem may be configured to cause the system to publish at least one data value according to a schedule and the common time signal. A processing sequence number subsystem may be configured to generate a processing sequence number to be included in the plurality of data packets and to reset the processing sequence number at a fixed interval based on the common time signal. A data packet subsystem may be configured to generate a plurality of data packets comprising a respective processing sequence number and the at least one data value.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a substrate for packaging a semiconductor device. The substrate includes a first dielectric layer having a first surface, a first patterned conductive layer adjacent to the first surface of the first dielectric layer, and a conductive post. The first patterned conductive layer includes a first conductive pad and a second conductive pad. The conductive post is disposed on the first conductive pad. The conductive post includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion of the conductive post are exposed by the first dielectric layer. The first portion of the conductive post has a first width corresponding to a top line width of the first portion and the second portion of the conductive post has a width. The width of the second portion of the conductive post is greater than the first width of the first portion of the conductive post.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to configuration of devices using distributed network protocols. In one embodiment, a client may poll a server device and receive a first set of data using a first communication protocol. The client may analyze the first set of data to determine a number and a type of each of a plurality of data points comprised in the first set of data. The client device may issue a query to the server device and may receive a second set of data using a second communication protocol. The second set of data may comprise information associated with each of the plurality of data points comprised in the first set of data. A data map may be created based on the first set of data and second set of data, and the client may be at least partially configured automatically based on the data map.

Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system comprises a downhole MWD telemetry tool comprising a mud pulse (MP) telemetry unit and an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry unit. The MWD telemetry tool can be configured to transmit data in an EM-only telemetry mode using only the EM telemetry unit, in an MP-only mode using only the MP telemetry unit, or in a concurrent telemetry mode using both the EM and MP telemetry units concurrently. When transmitting data in the concurrent telemetry mode, the telemetry tool can be configured to transmit in a concurrent confirmation mode wherein the same telemetry data is transmitted by each of the EM and MP telemetry units, or in a concurrent shared mode wherein some of the telemetry data is transmitted by the EM telemetry unit, and the rest of the telemetry data is transmitted by the MP telemetry unit. The telemetry tool can be programmed to change its operating telemetry mode in response to a downlink command sent by an operator at surface.

Abstract: A method of increasing recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs, and particularly from those located in tight formations, is disclosed. One aspect includes calculating the in situ fractured formation wettability from real-time measurement of flowback volume and composition. Another aspect includes determining the composition of the fracturing fluid, the overflush or both, that will achieve higher liquid hydrocarbon recovery by increasing the water wettability of rock surfaces within the reservoir. Monitoring of rock-surface wettability through flowback volume and composition profiles allows the above mentioned injectates to be adjusted in the field to achieve maximal recovery. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid particle having a core of a hybrid composite comprising at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium and a coating of at least one self-assembling polymeric layer encapsulating the core is provided. A method for preparing the hybrid particle includes mixing an aqueous solution of a polymer with an aqueous solution of a soluble precursor of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium to form a mixture and adding an acid to the mixture to obtain the hybrid particle. A cathode having an active material of the hybrid particles and a battery containing the cathode are also provided.

Abstract: A robotic actuator includes an internal anchor and an instrument. The internal anchor is adapted to be inserted into a body via an entrance port, positioned inside the body, and magnetically coupled with an external anchor positioned outside the body. The instrument is adapted to be inserted into the body via the entrance port and secured to the internal anchor. The instrument includes an end-effector having multiple degrees of movement via multiple axes, and a plurality of actuators that provide the multiple degrees of movement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semi-transparent reflector may include a multilayered photonic structure. The multilayered photonic structure includes a plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and a plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material. The plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and the plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material of the multilayered photonic structure are arranged in an [LH . . . (LH)N . . . L] structure. L is one of the plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material. H is one of the plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material. N is a positive integer. The multilayered photonic structure has substantially constant reflectance values for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectrum over a range of angles of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A cathode active composite containing an amorphous composite of vanadium oxide and an inorganic sulfide is provided. In one embodiment the composite contains vanadium pentoxide and phosphorous pentasulfide. In a further special embodiment, a cathode active material comprising a nanoparticle composite of an amorphous matrix containing vanadium, oxygen and sulfur and crystalline regions of vanadium and oxygen embedded in the matrix is provided. Electrochemical cells and a reversible battery having a cathode containing one of the cathode active composites are also provided. In specific embodiments the battery is a magnesium battery.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.

Abstract: A universal driven shaft retaining system includes a collet chuck holder that circumferentially engages a collet chuck with substantially inward compression during inward co-linear movement of a drawing bar creating a clamping (locking) effect on an inserted driven shaft.