Abstract: The present invention detects, determines, and mitigates signal-path processing errors. An extracted and inverted reference signal is compared to the carrier signal produced by various functional components to determine the error introduced to that signal by functional components. After the signal has been processed by various signal-processing components, the signal can once again be compared to the inverted reference signal so that a signal-path processing bias can be determined. Using that determination, a signal modification can be initiated to substantially reduce or eliminate all signal-path processing error.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical device, and to an optical device manufactured thereby, which involve using a substrate itself as a heat-dissipating plate, and adopting a substrate with vertical insulation layers formed thereon, such that electrode terminals do not have to be extruded out from a sealed space, and thus enabling the overall structure and manufacturing process for an optical device to be simplified.

Abstract: Methods for producing nanoparticles of metal alloys and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant and cationic metal to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles of zero-valent metal alloys produced by the method include ˜7 nm zero-valent manganese-bismuth useful in fabricating a less expensive permanent magnet.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for confirming fluid fill in automobile subassemblies are described herein. Such systems can include a weigh station to determine if the assembled automobile differential is at an acceptable weight that is indicative of proper fluid fill. A method of detecting a fluid fill condition for an automobile subassembly can comprise transferring the subassembly to a weigh station, applying constraints configured to prevent removal of the subassembly from the weigh station, weighing the subassembly, and determining the fluid fill condition based on the weight of the subassembly.

Abstract: A system for automatically forming chunks and spears at high speed from unpeeled fruit items is provided. The fruit is sliced into unpeeled wedges. The unpeeled wedges are conveyed into a plurality of staggered transverse chunking blades, wherein the flesh, but not the peel, is cut sequentially from the center of each wedge outwardly, flattening each wedge. A peel removal knife is located to sever the peel of each wedge from the center outwardly after the transverse chunk cutting blades have cut the flesh. Spears may be formed by deleting some of the transverse chunking blades.

Abstract: A hood and, in particular, a hood inner panel for increasing pedestrian safety during a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The hood inner panel includes two regions separated by an angled wall or a reinforcing structure which increases local rigidity. The rigidity of the hood inner panel in the vicinity of the angled wall is then adjusted for energy absorption by the inclusion of apertures which can increase the deformability of the hood inner panel.

Abstract: A construction element for a plant for capture of an acidic gas using an aqueous amine absorbent, wherein at least a part of a surface of said element comprises a polyolefin, and a hydrolytically stable antioxidant, is described. Additionally, a liner comprising said polyolefin and the hydrolytically stable antioxidant, is described. The construction element may be a column, a pipe, an insert, like a column packing element or a tray. An apparatus for capturing CO2 using the construction elements, is also described.

Abstract: Inflatable restraint assemblies for use with removable vehicle components allow portions of inflator assemblies to remain in the vehicle when the component is removed. The assemblies may include inflatable devices such as an airbag mounted within a removable seat with conduit connecting the inflatable device to a seat connection. The seat connection may be adapted to connect to an inflator connection that is connected to an inflator assembly within the vehicle. Such assemblies allow the inflatable device to be in fluid communication with the inflator assembly when in an installed position, and to allow the inflator assembly to remain attached within the vehicle when the seat is in a removed position.

Abstract: A method of providing a flow rack system design using a flow rack design application is provided. The method includes selecting a first tier menu item from a plurality of first tier menu items saved in memory using a computer. A second tier menu item is selected, wherein the second tier menu item has project level standards information associated with the second tier menu item saved in memory. A virtual flow rack system is generated using the computer, the project level standards information and parts information saved in memory.

Abstract: A vehicle (2) comprising a vehicle body (6) is disclosed. First struts (16) are mounted to the vehicle body for supporting transport wheels (12) for supporting the vehicle body in a first mode of operation of the vehicle, and second struts (26) are mounted to the vehicle body for supporting roller assemblies (14) for supporting the vehicle body and applying pressure to the ground to detonate explosive devices in a second mode of operation of the vehicle. The transport wheels engage the ground and the rollers are out of engagement with the ground in the first mode, and the rollers engage the ground and the transport wheels are out of engagement with the ground in the second mode. Rollers of one roller assembly partly protrude into gaps between rollers of the other roller assembly.

Abstract: Detailed are assistive mechanisms for vehicle operators designed to reduce risks associated with degraded landing and other situations. Some mechanisms may include a display with a visual indicator located within the peripheral field of view of an operator. Aural alerts may also be employed. Information suggesting degradation of, for example, ground deceleration performance may alert the operator to perform unusual or abnormal actions to mitigate hazards produced by the performance degradation.

Abstract: An automated driving system and methods are disclosed. The automated driving system includes a perception system disposed on an autonomous vehicle. The automated driving system can detect, based on an audio recording captured by the perception system, an emergency vehicle operating in an emergency mode. After detection, an image of the environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle can be captured by the perception system. Based on at least one of the audio recording and the image of the environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle, a location of the emergency vehicle in respect to the autonomous vehicle can be determined. If the location of the emergency vehicle is such that the autonomous vehicle is required to comply with a traffic regulation, the automated driving system can send a command to one or more vehicle systems of the autonomous vehicle to implement one or more maneuvers to comply with the traffic regulation.

Abstract: A heavy petroleum oil feed is upgraded by having its amenability to cracking improved by subjecting the oil to selective partial oxidation with a catalytic oxidation system to partially oxidize aromatic ring systems in the heavy oil. The partially oxidized oil can then be cracked in the conventional manner but at lower severities to lower molecular weight cracking products. The cracking following the partial oxidation step may be thermal in nature as by thermal cracking, delayed, contact or fluid coking or fluid catalytic cracking or hydrogenative as in hydrocracking.

Abstract: The liquid feed nozzle assemblies for a circulating fluid bed reactor comprise (i) a throttle body premixer to combine liquid feed with atomization steam to form a liquid feed/steam mixture comprising gas bubbles in liquid; (ii) a conduit connected to the premixer and to a discharge nozzle to convey a flow of the liquid/steam mixture created by the premixer to the nozzle body; (iii) a discharge nozzle connected to the flow conduit to shear the liquid feed/steam mixture to create liquid feed droplets of reduced size and (iv) a disperser at the outlet of the discharge nozzle to provide a spray jet of liquid feed having an increased surface area relative to a cylindrical jet. The nozzle assembles are particularly useful in fluid coking units using heavy oil feeds such a tar sands bitumen.

Abstract: The stability of distillate type jet fuels is improved by cathodic hydrogenation in an electrolytic cell with a proton permeable membrane separating cathode and anode compartments; a source of hydrogen is oxidized in the anode compartment to form protons which permeate the membrane to effect a cathodic reduction of the nitrogenous components of the fuel in the cathode compartment.

Abstract: A coiled tubing lift frame assembly for use as a back-up heave compensator on a floating vessel is described. The assembly includes a frame having an upper frame section adapted for attachment to a top drive system and a lower frame section adapted to interface with a flowhead assembly. The assembly also includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders spaced apart from one another, the hydraulic cylinders having a respective cylinder barrel and a piston rod translatable therein with free end of the piston rods being fixed to the upper frame section. The assembly also includes a piston accumulator disposed adjacent to a first of the hydraulic cylinders and in fluid communication therewith via a hydraulic fluid line and an air accumulator disposed adjacent to a second of the hydraulic cylinders and in fluid communication with the piston accumulator via a pneumatic fluid line.

Abstract: An embedded component package structure includes a substrate. A first conductive component extends from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate, a first conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and a second conductive layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer by the first conductive component. A die is disposed in a through hole in the substrate. A back surface of the die is exposed from the second surface of the substrate. A first dielectric layer covers an active surface of the die and the first surface of the substrate. A third conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the die by a second conductive component. A first metal layer is disposed directly on the back surface of the die.

Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a rocker support extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, where the rocker support is positioned outboard of the side support in a vehicle lateral direction, a torque box extending in the vehicle lateral direction, a dash panel coupled to the torque box, where the dash panel comprises an engine room barrier portion extending upward from the torque box and a floor attachment portion extending downward from the torque box, and a reinforcement member positioned between the side support and the rocker support, where the reinforcement member is spaced apart from the side support and the rocker support, and where the reinforcement member is coupled to the engine room barrier portion and the floor attachment portion of the dash panel.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) for controlling an industrial process using a plurality of distributed control nodes (DCNs) can include a plurality of Device DCNs, each Device DCN including an I/O interface coupled with a field device for single channel input or output, a plurality of Application DCNs, and one or more Ethernet switches. The plurality of Device DCNs and the plurality of Application DCNs can be adapted to host a software runtime and communicatively coupled via the one or more Ethernet switches. The DCS architecture can include of two types of DCNs; Application DCNs and Device DCNs. The software runtime can be configured to selectively provide control application level communication and function block execution services.

Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes hydrohalogenating a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a halogen-containing terminal group, and reacting the terminal group with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.