Abstract: Switchable radiative energy harvesting systems and methods of harvesting radiation are disclosed. A system includes an optical filter that includes at least one of an active material and a passive material. The optical filter is switchable between a shield mode and a harvesting mode such that the at least one of the active material and the passive material is in a reflecting state during the shield mode such that the optical filter blocks passage of radiation from a thermal emitter to a thermophotovoltaic cell and a transmitting state during the harvesting mode such that that the optical filter allows the radiation to pass from the thermal emitter to the thermophotovoltaic cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 3D printer printhead, a 3D printer using the same, a method for manufacturing a molded product by using the 3D printer, a method for manufacturing an artificial tooth by using the 3D printer, and a method for manufacturing a machinable glass ceramic molded product by using the 3D printer, the 3D printer printhead comprising: an inlet through which glass wire, which is a raw material, is introduced; a heating means for heating the glass wire introduced through the inlet; a melting furnace for providing a space in which the glass wire is fused; and a nozzle connected to the lower part of the melting furnace so as to temporarily store the fused glass or discharge a targeted amount of the fused glass, wherein the melting furnace includes an exterior frame made from a heat resistant material and an interior frame having a crucible shape, and the interior frame is made from platinum (Pt), a Pt alloy or graphite, which have a low contact angle, or a material having a surface coated

Abstract: A vision-assist device may include at least one image sensor for generating image data corresponding to an environment, a user input device for receiving user input regarding one or more physical characteristics of a user, and a processor. The processor may be programmed to receive the image data from the at least one image sensor, receive the user input from the user input device, and adjust an alignment of the at least one image sensor based on the received image data and the user input. Methods for aligning an image sensor are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a hydraulic cable tensioning machine, comprising a tension puller for tensioning a cable, a hydraulic motor for controlling the action of the tension puller, and a hydraulic driving system for driving the hydraulic motor to operate, wherein an output end of the hydraulic driving system is connected to an input end of the hydraulic motor, and a power output end of the hydraulic motor is connected to a power input end of the tension puller.

Abstract: Both stability and high glossiness of a glossy ink used for printing can be achieved. A printer is provided that performs inkjet printing for a medium. The printer includes a glossy ink head as an inkjet head that discharges droplets of a glossy ink, a heater, and an ultraviolet light source. The glossy ink includes an ultraviolet-curable resin curable by being irradiated with ultraviolet light, a glossy pigment, and a solvent added to disperse the pigment. Particles of the glossy pigment have particle sizes less than or equal to 0.5 ?m. The heater heats the medium to volatilize and strip the solvent in the ink. The ultraviolet light source irradiates dots of the glossy ink on the medium with ultraviolet light after a preset waiting time has passed subsequent to a timing of the droplets of the glossy ink landing on the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plunger (20) for a dispenser, the plunger including a large diameter body portion (23) provided with ring-shaped contact surfaces (24, 25) that contact an inner wall surface of a syringe, a rear opening (26) formed in a backside of the large diameter body portion (23), and a small diameter body portion (22) provided with a front opening (28), wherein the front opening (28) is formed in a size allowing a liquid material to be directly pressed by pressurized air, and allowing at least the plunger (20) to move following a fall in water head position, which is caused with discharge and consumption of the liquid material. With those features, the liquid material can be prevented from adhering to the inner wall surface of the syringe, and the liquid material in the syringe can be prevented from flowing backwards.

Abstract: This invention relates to a drive system for an automatic step. Some embodiments include a rotary actuator for moving an automatic step, a crank arm pivotally coupled to the actuator and pivotable about a central shaft, and a first link pivotally coupled to the crank arm, the first link having first and second ends. The system has one or more force mitigation mechanisms capable of reducing forces eccentric with respect to the actuator. A first force mitigation mechanism engages when the step is deployed or nearly deployed by aligning the central shaft with the first and second ends of the first link along a first axis to generally place eccentric forces originating from the step against the central shaft of the crank arm instead of directly engaging the actuator. A second force mitigation mechanism allows the crank arm to yield without forcing the actuator by using a clutch adjacent to the central shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing high-purity vanadium tetraoxide powder. Industrial grade vanadium pentoxide is converted to vanadium oxytrichloride by low temperature fluidizing chlorination, wherein chlorinating gas is preheated via heat exchange between fluidizing gas and chlorination flue gas, and an appropriate amount of air is added to enable a part of carbon powder to combust so as to achieve a balanced heat supply during the chlorination, thereby increasing the efficiency of chlorination and ensuring good selectivity in low temperature chlorination. The vanadium oxytrichloride is purified by rectification, and then subjected to fluidized gas phase hydrolyzation, thereby producing a high-purity vanadium pentoxide product and a by-product solution of hydrochloric acid, and further obtaining a high-purity vanadium tetraoxide powder product through fluidized hydrogen reduction.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods configured to monitor and protect an electric motor during startup using a motor model. The motor model parameters may be calculated using measurements taken during a calibration start of the electric motor. The measurements may include slip, stator current, stator voltage, frequency, and/or other electrical or physical parameters. In some embodiments, the motor model parameters may be calculated by minimizing the difference between a measured slip and a calculated slip. The motor model may comprise a variety of parameters used to determine operation parameters of the motor during the startup. In one specific embodiment, the motor model may determine a thermal capacity used (TCU). The TCU may be compared to a threshold value to determine whether protective action is necessary.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing high-purity vanadium pentoxide powder. Industrial grade vanadium pentoxide is converted to vanadium oxytrichloride by low temperature fluidizing chlorination, wherein chlorinating gas is preheated via heat exchange between fluidizing gas and chlorination flue gas, and an appropriate amount of air is added to enable a part of carbon powder to combust so as to achieve a balanced heat supply during the chlorination, thereby increasing the efficiency of chlorination and ensuring good selectivity in low temperature chlorination. The vanadium oxytrichloride is purified by rectification, and then subjected to fluidized gas phase hydrolyzation and fluidized calcination, thereby producing a high-purity vanadium pentoxide product and a by-product of hydrochloric acid solution.

Abstract: A shaping device, that shapes a three-dimensional object, includes an ink jet head that discharges an ink to become a material of shaping; and an ink supplying unit that supplies a pre-toned ink, which is the ink toned in advance in accordance with a color to be colored on the 3D object, to the ink jet head, where the ink jet head forms at least one part of the 3D object while coloring the one part with the color of the pre-toned ink by discharging the pre-toned ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for purifying and preparing vanadium pentoxide powder. Industrial grade vanadium pentoxide is converted to vanadium oxytrichloride by low temperature fluidizing chlorination, wherein chlorinating gas is preheated via heat exchange between fluidizing gas and chlorination flue gas, and an appropriate amount of air is added to enable a part of carbon powder to combust so as to achieve a balanced heat supply during the chlorination, thereby increasing the efficiency of chlorination and ensuring good selectivity in low temperature chlorination. The vanadium oxytrichloride is purified by rectification, and then subjected to fluidized gas phase ammonification, thereby obtaining ammonium metavanadate, and further obtaining a high-purity vanadium pentoxide powder product through fluidized calcination.

Abstract: A front hood assembly for a vehicle including a front grille may include a sensory assembly, a bumper assembly positioned adjacent to the front grille, and an energy absorber structure. The bumper assembly may include a bumper reinforcement having a front face and a top face, which front face is disposed below and extends away from the top face. The energy absorber structure may be positioned adjacent to the top face of the bumper reinforcement. The energy absorber structure may be rearwardly compliant in an impact direction and disposed below and rearwardly of the sensory assembly such that an impact of the sensory assembly with the energy absorber structure in the impact direction collapses the energy absorber structure rearwardly.

Abstract: Provided are a flat cable and a manufacturing method thereof, and particularly, a flat cable including: a pod including pipe type insertion portions formed to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance at both side ends thereof and a central insertion portion of which both ends are integrally connected to the both pipe type insertion portions; a pair of left and right support members inserted into the pipe insertion portions; and multiple electric cables inserted into the central insertion portion and the central insertion portion of the pod is partitioned into multiple spaces separated from each other and multiple electric cables 30 are horizontally disposed in the separated spaces in one layer to minimize mutual entangling or friction of the electric cables.

Abstract: Vision-assist devices and methods for calibrating a position of a vision-assist device worn by a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of calibrating a vision-assist device includes capturing a calibration image using at least one capturing device of the vision-assist device, obtaining at least one attribute of the calibration image, and comparing the at least one attribute of the calibration image with a reference attribute. The method further includes determining an adjustment of the at least one image sensor based at least in part on the comparison of the at least one attribute of the calibration image with the reference attribute, and providing an output corresponding to the determined adjustment of the vision-assist device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid in an injection well includes a main valve assembly having a valve and a retrievable nozzle selective lock assembly (RNSLA). The RNSLA is operable when positioned within the valve body to open the valve when fluid is pumped into the well and closes the valve when fluid flow is terminated. The RNSLA includes a replaceable orifice nozzle so that orifices of different dimensions may be used in conjunction with the valve assembly. In an alternate embodiment, the RNSLA includes a variable output nozzle assembly to maintain the valve in a protected open position without chattering over a wide range of flow rates.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording method are provided that facilitate designing of units for subsequent treatment in terms of their shapes and/or positions, while suppressing variability in image quality resulting from subsequent treatment. Two or more recording heads are disposed in a staggered arrangement in X and Y directions. The paired units for subsequent treatment are disposed in parallel to each other along the X direction, and the recording heads are interposed between these units. The length of each of the units for subsequent treatment in the X direction is greater than or equal to the ink-dischargeable extent in the X direction of the recording heads in one scan. The recording heads are arranged, so that nozzle groups, from which the droplets of the same color are discharged, are disposed symmetrically with respect to an intermediary line between the paired units for subsequent treatment.

Abstract: For providing inline sterile freeze drying of a product containing solid matter and a solvent, such as water, in a plurality of trays accommodated in at least one trolley, a system comprises a filling station having an inlet end and an outlet end, or a docking station, a freeze storage, a freeze dryer unit, an emptying station having an inlet end and an outlet end, or a docking station, a plurality of trays adapted to be accommodated in at least one trolley. A cleaning and sterilizing unit is provided between the outlet end of the emptying station and the inlet end of the filling station.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for monitoring the health of a circuit breaker. In various embodiments, a system may receive a voltage measurement across a trip coil assembly associated with a circuit breaker. The system may further receive a current measurement through the trip coil assembly. A plurality of transition points may be identified based on at least one of the voltage measurement and the current measurement, the plurality of transition points corresponding to at least one of a mechanical characteristic and an electrical characteristic of the circuit breaker during a trip event. A predictive analysis may be performed based at least in part on the plurality of transition points. An indication of the predictive health may be displayed.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods to identify high-priority traffic within a software defined network (“SDN”) and to route such traffic through physically distinct communication paths. Such routing may help to reduce network congestion faced by high-priority traffic and increase the reliability of transmission of such data. Certain embodiments may further be configured to generate a failover communication path that is physically distinct from a primary communication path. Still further, certain embodiments may be configured to suggest enhancements to a network that may improve a reliability criterion.