Abstract: A turbocharger assembly can include a shaft having a rotational axis where the shaft includes a turbine wheel that includes a hub portion; a bearing that includes an outer race, an inner race operatively coupled to the shaft, and rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race where an inner radius of the outer race and an outer radius of the inner race define a radial gap; and a lubricant slinger disposed axially between the inner race and the hub portion of the turbine wheel where the lubricant slinger includes a surface that faces and slopes away from the radial gap.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, each of the plurality of PTZ cameras having a respective field of view that covers a respective portion of a secured geographic area, a memory that saves a plurality of surveillance scenarios, each of the plurality of surveillance scenarios including a respective pan, tilt, and a zoom position for each of the plurality of PTZ cameras, and a user interface that receives a selection of one of the plurality of surveillance scenarios from a human user and, in response, simultaneously displays respective real time video images from each of the plurality of PTZ cameras using the respective pan, tilt, and zoom positions of the one of the plurality of surveillance scenarios.

Abstract: A method for controlling an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for a compressor so as to switch the mechanism in a binary fashion between two positions P1 and P2 for adjusting a flow area of the inlet. The method includes identifying a threshold line on a compressor map of pressure ratio versus corrected flow rate for the compressor. The threshold line is a line on which the pressure ratio and flow rate of the compressor are the same for the P1 and P2 positions of the inlet-adjustment mechanism at equal speeds. When the operating point of the compressor on the compressor map crosses the threshold line, the inlet-adjustment mechanism is switched from one of its binary positions to the other.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for alignment of an optical component are described herein. One method includes forming a pit in a substrate, placing an optical component in the pit, and aligning the optical component such that an edge of the optical component is in physical contact with an alignment edge of the pit.

Abstract: A method for additively manufacturing an article includes providing or obtaining a build material, directing a first energy beam at the build material to raise the temperature of the build material above a melting point of the build material, and thereafter withdrawing the first energy beam to allow the build material to solidify into a first layer. The method further includes directing a second energy beam at the first layer, wherein the second energy beam differs from the first energy beam in that the second energy beam is of insufficient energy to cause melting of the first layer of build material and after directing the second energy beam at the first layer, providing additional build material over the first layer. The second energy beam will have an effect of reducing or eliminating residual stresses of each build layer. The energy of the second energy beam can be controlled using a thermal or optical feedback loop.

Abstract: An actuator assembly having an outer section and an inner section that are moveable relative to each other has a clutch assembly mounted on the outer section. The clutch includes a clutch housing, a clutch motor, and a plurality of pins. The clutch housing is rotatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The clutch motor is coupled to the clutch housing and is configured to rotate the clutch housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The pins are disposed within, and extend radially inwardly from, the clutch housing, and each pin is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the clutch housing is rotated into the engaged position, the pins are moved to, and retained in, the extended position, and when the clutch housing is rotated into the disengaged position, the pins are movable to the retracted position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chip scale atomic sensor is provided. The chip scale atomic sensor includes a body that defines at least one sensing chamber. The body includes a thermal isolation die mounted to the body. The thermal isolation die is disposed in a location that communicates with the at least one sensing chamber. The thermal isolation die includes a substrate defining a frame portion and an isolated portion and a plurality of tethers mechanically coupling the isolated portion of the substrate to the frame portion. The thermal isolation die also includes an atomic source mounted on the isolated portion of the substrate, and a heating element mounted on the isolated portion and configured to heat the atomic source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing robustness of a system with a remote server are provided. Some methods can include a first system remotely controlling a second system, detecting a failure in the first system or in a communication link between the first system and the second system, and temporarily removing control of the second system from the first system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of increasing the efficiency and accuracy of a walk test in a fire alarm system are provided. Some methods can include receiving one or more walk test result signals from a system in a region, the signals indicative of one or more triggered input devices in the system and one or more activated output devices in the system, identifying one or more output devices in the system configured to be activated responsive to the one or more triggered input devices, comparing the activated output devices to the output devices configured to be activated, and transmitting a signal indicative of results of the comparing. Additionally or alternatively, some methods can include visually displaying or audibly emitting an indication of the results of the comparing.

Abstract: A power transformation system having a power stealing mode for powering a device indirectly through an electrical load connected to a power source and also has a characterization mode. The transfer of energy from the power source via the load may go undetected. The system may store energy from the load in an ultra or super capacitor. This energy may be used to power Wi-Fi and various thermostat applications, among other things, associated with HVAC and building automation and management systems. Energy from the load may be supplemented or substituted with energy from a battery and/or a buck converter. In the characterization mode, the system may obtain data relative to power usage of a load and determine a profile to identify one or more components and their operating conditions.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for providing building information modeling data are described herein. One system includes a database having complete building information modeling data associated with a building, and a computing device coupled to the database. The computing device is configured to receive, from a user of the computing device, a request for a particular scope of building information modeling data associated with the building, retrieve, from the database, the building information modeling data in the database that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user, and provide, to the user, the building information modeling data that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, wherein the method includes the steps of an activity analysis processor monitoring activities of a security system protecting a secured area and a human operator of the security system and evaluating the activities, the activity analysis processor detecting an event and saving a summary of the event to a cloud server, a user interface of the cloud server detecting a request from a user for an activity report, the cloud server downloading the activity report to the user, the activity report including playback features controlling playback of the summary, the playback features including a provision to accept requests from the user for additional data, and the playback features downloading and displaying the additional data in response to the requests from the user for the additional data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and systems which comprise or utilize a multi-component mixture comprising: (a) HFC-32; (b) HFC-125; (c) HFO-1234ze, HFO-1234yf and combinations of these; and (d) optionally HFC-134a.

Abstract: Systems, devices, techniques, and methods are disclosed for an opto-mechanical vibrating beam accelerometer. In one example, a system is configured to couple a laser into optical resonance with opto-mechanically active (OMA) anchors suspending a proof mass; lock frequencies of the laser to optical resonances of the OMA anchors, resulting in a modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors; demodulate a photocurrent that detects the modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors to detect at least an amplitude or a phase of the modulated laser; lock a frequency of the modulated laser to dynamically track instantaneous resonance frequencies of mechanical modes of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser induced by coupling of the modulated laser to the OMA anchors; and measure an acceleration based on instantaneous resonance frequencies of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for utilizing a burner with a combustion air driven jet pump are described herein. One burner apparatus includes a jet pump located inside a burner housing, the jet pump having a combustion air inlet that receives combustion air, a chamber to receive the combustion air from the combustion air inlet, and a tapered portion of the chamber that tapers to an outlet having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the inlet.

Abstract: A system for providing combustion air and fuel gas to a premix burner includes a premix engine, a premix burner in fluid communication with an outlet of the premix engine, an exhaust flue, a flue gas recirculation line in fluid communication with the flue and an inlet of the premix engine, and a fresh air line in fluid communication with a source of fresh air and the inlet of the premix engine. A flue gas flow restrictor is installed in the flue gas recirculation line, and a fresh air flow restrictor is installed in the fresh air line. The flow restrictors are sized so that the premix engine, in operation, draws recycled flue gas and fresh air from the recycled flue gas line and fresh air line, respectively, in a predetermined proportion.

Abstract: An actuator system which may incorporate a motor, a motor controller connected to the motor, a processor connected to the motor controller, and a switch connected to the processor for engaging the motor to open and close an actuator shaft. The switch may have a position which is a test mode. Selecting the position of test mode may cause the motor to move the actuator shaft to a certain position to verify operation of the actuator shaft. The actuator shaft may stay in the certain position while the switch is in a position of test mode. The system may also incorporate a spring attached to the actuator shaft. If power fails to the motor, then the actuator spring or another mechanism may return the actuator shaft to a fail safe position. The test mode may alternatively be selected at a controller via the communications bus to the processor.

Abstract: A single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) circuit has at least a circuit input node and a circuit common node, and includes an inductor, a first coupling capacitor, an isolation transformer, a controllable switch, a second coupling capacitor, and a clamp diode. The inductor is electrically connected in series between the circuit input node and the first coupling capacitor. The first coupling capacitor is connected in series between the inductor and the first primary input terminal. The controllable switch is electrically connected in series between an internal circuit node and the circuit common node, and the internal circuit node is located between the inductor and the first coupling capacitor. The second coupling capacitor is electrically connected in series between the second primary input terminal and the circuit common node. The clamp diode is electrically connected in series between the internal circuit node and the second primary input terminal.

Abstract: An optical tracker system is provided for tracking a location and orientation of a first object. The system includes a prediction module configured to determine a predicted location and orientation of the first object as a spatial prediction; a display module configured to generate display commands for a fiducial symbol based on the spatial prediction; a display unit configured to display the fiducial symbol based on the display commands; a camera unit configured to capture an image of the fiducial symbol displayed on the display device as a captured appearance; and a position determination module coupled to the camera unit and configured to receive the image from camera unit. The position determination module is configured to identify the fiducial symbol and determine the location and the orientation of the first object based on the captured appearance of the fiducial symbol.