Abstract: A curette for pituitary adenoma surgery may include a curette having a tubular blade portion. A first cutting edge is formed at a first end of the blade portion, and a protective shell is formed at an outer periphery of the first cutting edge. A first annular ring formed at a first end of the protective shell is located at the same side of the first cutting edge, and a rod portion extended from a surface of the protective shell is configured to provide a handhold for a user. The first annular ring of the protective shell can prevent the first cutting edge of the blade portion from accidentally cutting the meninges or blood vessels during pituitary adenoma surgery. Thus, the curette can improve the efficiency of the surgery and lower surgery time, anesthetic dosage and risk of the surgery.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object that maintains a satisfactory visual color quality when the object is observed at different positions or through different angles, and a three-dimensional shaping apparatus for and a three-dimensional shaping method of shaping such a three-dimensional object are provided. The three-dimensional object includes: a shaping base having a first and second outer surfaces adjacent to each other at an adjacent angle; a first colored layer formed on the first outer surface and including a transparent material colored in a first color; a second colored layer formed on the second outer surface and including a transparent material colored in a second color different from the first color; and a partition layer interposed between the side surfaces of the first colored layer and the second colored layer. The partition layer is opaque and has one of the first color, the second color, and an achromatic color.

Abstract: A transfer of payload data from a buffer to a destination data store is provided so that the data can be processed there by a computer-assisted development environment. To this end, a data management environment provides the buffer and the destination data store. A data record having the payload data and semantic data that are associated with the payload data is provided in the buffer, and a data object with processing-specific object semantics is provided in the destination data store. The data object is instantiated with the payload data by means of the semantic data in that the payload data are placed in the data object as a function of the object semantics of the data object in such a manner that the development environment can process the payload data on the basis of the object semantics.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and computer program products for detecting a configuration error or operating error corresponding to an input/output (I/O) device. The I/O device comprises a plurality of I/O points configured to establish a combined I/O channel between said I/O device and a field device, said combined I/O channel comprising a primary I/O channel and at least one secondary I/O channel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus that may be equipped to efficiently separate a three-dimensional object from a mounting unit is provided. The printing apparatus includes: a mounting unit having a mounting surface on which a three-dimensional object being manufactured is mounted; a separator to separate the three-dimensional object from the mounting unit; a moving unit to move the three-dimensional object remaining on the mounting surface and the separator unit relative to each other after the manufacturing of the three-dimensional object is completed, the three-dimensional object on the mounting surface and the separator being moved to arrive at a separating position at which the three-dimensional object is separated by the separator; and a controller that controls the moving unit.

Abstract: A fastener with an dampener is provided. The dampener is integrated with the fastener thus eliminating the need for an additional dampener installation. The fastener includes a shaft, a head connected to the shaft, and a dampener connected to the head. The dampener includes a piston and a compression chamber that is adapted to reduce vibration and noise when installed between two panels. The dampener is mounted to the underside of the head of a bolt, or to a trim piece. In other embodiments, the dampener is connected to the head of a clip. The dampener is adapted to rest between the head of a bolt and an adjacent panel thereby slightly spacing out the bolt head from the panel, such as sheet metal.

Abstract: A fixing screw structure for adjusting a fixing procedure used for fixing a panel to a casing, including a screw, an elastomer and a fixing frame. The screw includes a threaded portion and a tapered portion, and passes through the panel, and the threaded portion is screwed on the casing. The elastomer is annular and disposed around the screw, and has a taper hole corresponding to the tapered portion. The fixing frame is a hollow tube, and is fixed on the panel and positioned around the elastomer. When the screw is screwed, the tapered portion abuts the inner wall of the taper hole and the elastomer is expanded outwardly to fitly abut the inner wall of the fixing frame. The instant disclosure transforms the longitudinal screwing force into a transverse expanding force to fix the panel, thereby eliminating the cumulative tolerance of the casing and the panel.

Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine may be driven by the exhaust and may drive a compressor that receives air and produces the charge air. A second turbo machine may receive the exhaust and may rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump may receive an EGR from the exhaust and may introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air.

Abstract: A method for changing software in a memory of an electronic control unit, wherein each memory address from the overlay memory can be assigned to a memory address in the read-only memory by an assignment information item. During a run time of the control unit, at least a functional part of a bypass routine that is to at least partially replace an original program routine is stored in an address range in the overlay memory, or a jump instruction is stored in the overlay memory as the first part of a bypass routine that refers to a second part of the bypass routine that is stored in an address range accessible to the processor. To activate an overlay functionality the address and/or the address range of the overlay memory are assigned to an address or address range of the program routine to be replaced.

Abstract: A clip that can be attached to a jump bracket to align the jump bracket and the associated curtain side airbag (CSA) relative to the vehicle for attachment thereto. The clip is configured to be attached to an existing alignment member on the jump bracket and provide more restrained positioning in an alignment opening in the vehicle panel. The more restrained positioning facilitates the alignment of both first and second fastening features on the jump bracket with the associated fastening locations on the vehicle thereby providing a greater and more reliable ease of installation of the CSA. The clip can be configured to provide a datum for the proper alignment of the jump bracket relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are disclosed herein to describe a range marker for a navigation system. The range marker may delineate a bounded area within a navigation map that a vehicle may travel based on the amount of fuel remaining. As the fuel continues to decrease during operation of the vehicle, the range marker may become smaller and smaller indicating a shrinking range since the fuel remaining decreases, thereby allowing the driver to easily identify which gas stations may be within a range of the vehicle (based on a current vehicle fuel level) and which gas stations might not be within the range of the vehicle.

Abstract: A clutch assembly that is less prone to overheating is disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a clutch housing, a shaft, and a clutch pack. The clutch pack includes a first apply plate, a second apply plate, a plurality of friction plates, and a plurality of reaction plates. The clutch assembly further includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator applies pressure to the first apply plate in a first direction to move the first apply plate toward the second apply plate. The second actuator applies pressure to the second apply plate in a second direction to move the second apply plate toward the first apply plate. The first direction is opposite the second direction such that the first and second actuators apply pressure to the clutch pack in opposing directions. This reduces localized temperature spikes in the clutch pack.

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: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey system and methods for surveying an area of interest are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, each docking station comprising a platform to support a UAV while docked at the docking station; a battery charger; and a communications interface; a plurality of UAVs distributed among the plurality of docking stations, each UAV comprising a communications interface; and a system controller comprising a processor and transmitter communicatively coupled to the plurality of UAVs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing a heavy oil feed, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid, using a combination of solvent assisted hydroprocessing and slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed. The systems and methods allow for conversion and desulfurization/denitrogenation of a feed to form fuels and gas oil (or lubricant base oil) boiling range fractions while reducing the portion of the feed that is exposed to the high severity conditions present in slurry hydroconversion.

Abstract: A power storage system is provided with charge switches, discharge switches, a bidirectional DC/DC converter and a power storage system controller connecting all the battery packs to an external circuit to achieve parallel charge and discharge, and the power storage system starts the charge by setting a rated charge current value per one battery pack to Iset and setting the rated charge current value Iset as an initial value of a charge current command value Iref(1), thereafter monitor the charge current of each of the battery packs after elapse of a predetermined time so as to subtract its maximum value Ibmax(1) from the charge current command value Iref(1), and add the rated charge current value Iset to result of subtraction Ierr (Iref(1)?Ibmax(1)) so as to set as a new charge current command value Iref(2) and carry out pre-charge in such a manner as to carry on the charge.

Abstract: A vehicle and methods of braking the vehicle on a downhill grade as automatically implemented by a computing device are disclosed. One method includes detecting application of a vehicle brake and detecting acceleration of the vehicle while the vehicle traverses the downhill grade. Based on detection of the application of the vehicle brake and detection of the acceleration of the vehicle, the method also includes sending a command to downshift a transmission of the vehicle. If, after the downshift of the transmission, the application of the vehicle brake is not detected for a threshold time, the acceleration of the vehicle falls below a threshold acceleration, or the downhill grade falls below a threshold grade, the method can further include sending a command to upshift the transmission.

Abstract: A baffle for disposition in a sump having a fluid containing cavity is disclosed. A first portion of the baffle has an outside edge abutting a side wall of the sump and an inner edge defining an opening. A second portion of the baffle extends downwardly from the inner edge to a lower edge abutting a bottom wall of the sump. At least one jalousie divider is disposed along the second portion of the baffle to regulate fluid flow through the baffle based on fluid temperature. A controller is coupled to the jalousie divider to selectively drive the jalousie divider to a closed position that prevents fluid flow through the baffle when the fluid temperature is below a temperature threshold and an open position that permits fluid flow through the second portion of the baffle when the fluid temperature is above the temperature threshold.

Abstract: Dual directional latch devices or connectors are described wherein a first connector component and a second connector component have a first latched position and a second latched position when moving in a first direction and wherein movement in a second direction is also possible depending on a stop feature. As described, a combination key and key way, a movable sleeve, a stop flange, and a threaded sleeve may be provided to stop movement in the second direction. The dual direction latch devices may be used with articles of manufacture such as with implantable medical devices, door panels, airplane panels, and drilling devices, to name a few.