Abstract: For an encoder for use in a flash memory controller, partial parity blocks generated in the encoder are divided into two parts for further operations, wherein a number of partial parity block(s) of the first part generated earlier is less than a number of partial parity block(s) of the second part. The encoder can reduce the hardware required for the circulant convolution calculation in the encoder, and has high efficiency. In addition, by converting a parity-check matrix to generate an isomorphic matrix, some components in the encoder and the decoder can be further omitted, so as to further reduce the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.

Abstract: A magnetic drive includes a base plate, an energy source mounted to the base plate, a control unit, a first magnetic field generator, and a switching circuit. The energy source and the first magnetic field generator are interconnected by the switching circuit. The control unit is configured to control the switching circuit to provide energy to the first magnetic field generator. The first magnetic field generator is configured to generate a magnetic field when being supplied with energy. The control unit is configured to control the switching unit to achieve a desired polarity of the generated magnetic field to interact with the external magnetic field so that a rotational force selectively in clockwise or counterclockwise direction is generated to rotate the first magnetic field generator within the external magnetic field in a desired direction of rotation.

Abstract: A modular passive-to-active exoskeleton system utilizes motor unit modules, an electromagnetic-clutch power transmission system, and biometric control. The passive exoskeleton has a stamina-increasing “chairless chair” function and optional use of magnetic ball-and-socket joints and knee torsion springs. To convert the exoskeleton system into an active robotic wearable device, modular attachments allow for motor units to be securely connected to the exoskeletal frame. An exoskeleton system may contain a knee motor unit that has a transmission system with an electromagnetic clutch that enables a passive mode, active mode, and/or hybrid mode. The motor units are controlled using wireless biometric motion sensors that measure limb joint angle and muscle activity. These motor units also communicate via wireless transmission with a central processing unit of the exoskeleton.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable, wireless-enabled biometric sensor systems, methods for manufacturing/operating such biometric sensor systems, and robotic exoskeletons equipped with such biometric sensor systems. A biometric sensor system includes a first biometric subassembly that mounts to an upper-extremity portion of a user's appendage, and a second biometric subassembly that mounts to a lower-extremity portion of the user's appendage. Each biometric subassembly includes a respective biometric sensor that monitors a biometric characteristic of the respective extremity portion of the user appendage and wirelessly outputs a sensor signal indicative thereof. A system central processing unit (CPU), which mounts onto the user, is programmed to receive sensor signals from the biometric sensors, calculate a biometric parameter of the user appendage using biometric characteristics indicated by the received sensor signals, and command a subsystem (e.g.

Abstract: A modular passive-to-active exoskeleton system utilizes motor unit modules, an electromagnetic clutch power transmission system, and biometric control. The passive exoskeleton has a stamina-increasing “chair less chair” function, and optional use of magnetic ball and socket joints and knee torsion springs. To convert the exoskeleton system into an active robotic wearable device, modular attachments allow for motor units to be securely connected to the exoskeletal unit. This exoskeleton contains a knee motor unit that has a transmission system with an electromagnetic clutch that enables a passive mode, active mode, and/or hybrid mode. The motor units are controlled via wireless biometric motion sensors that measure limb joint angle and muscle activity. These motor units also communicate via wireless transmission with a central processing units of the exoskeleton.

Abstract: A motion platform apparatus (100) for vehicle simulation comprises: a payload platform (134) having peripheral elevation sites (136, 138, 140). The apparatus also comprises a base stage (102) having peripheral anchoring sites. A plurality of linkages (110, 112, 114) of the apparatus (100) is configured to couple the peripheral anchoring sites to the peripheral elevation sites (136, 138, 140), respectively. Each linkage of the plurality of linkages (110, 112, 114) is configured to vary elevation of a respective elevation site (136, 138, 140) of the payload platform (134). The apparatus (100) further comprises a plurality of configurable pneumatic supports (204, 206, 208) respectively configured to adjust pressurisation independently of one another, thereby providing support to the payload platform (134).

Abstract: Presented are wearable sensor systems for monitoring user movement, methods for making/using such systems, exoskeletons employing such systems, and wireless-enabled wearable sensor devices for performing biometric measurements. A sensor system for monitoring movement of a user includes a wearable sensor device that is communicatively connectable to a sensor linking node. The sensor linking node wirelessly receives sensor data from the wearable sensor device and wirelessly communicates the received sensor data to a remote computing node. The wearable sensor device includes an expandable device body, such as an elastic compression sleeve or an adjustable strap, that is worn on an appendage of the user. The device body includes a mounting interface, such as mating hook-and-loop fastener pads, that removably mounts thereon a biometric sensor core (BSC) unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fractional frequency divider, wherein the fractional frequency divider includes a plurality of registers, a counter, a control signal generator and a clock gating circuit. Regarding the plurality of registers, at least a portion of the registers are set to have values The counter is configured to sequentially generate a plurality of counter values, wherein the plurality of counter values correspond to the at least a portion of the registers, respectively, and the plurality of counter values are generated repeatedly The control signal generator is configured to generate a control signal based on the received counter value and the value of the corresponding register. The clock gating circuit is configured to refer to the control signal to mask or not mask an input clock signal to generate an output clock signal.

Abstract: A sonic- or ultrasonic flowmeter (200), is provided that comprises a body (202) configured to be connected to a pipeline. A first connector (204) is located on a first end (206) of the body (202) and a second connector (208) is located on a second end (210) of the body (202). Meter electronics (220) is configured to interface with sensors (235) and to indicate the degree of fluid flow through the pipeline to which the flowmeter (200) is connected based on signals received from the sensors (235). The meter electronics (220) comprises an acquisition section (224) and an interface section (222). An acquisition module (234) of the acquisition section (224) is configured to communicate with the sensors (235). An attachment region (237) is defined by the body, with the acquisition section (224) being attached thereto. An enclosure form (236) is sealedly attached to the body (202) that circumscribes the acquisition module (234).

Abstract: A modular passive-to-active exoskeleton system utilizes motor unit modules, an electromagnetic-clutch power transmission system, and biometric control. A passive exoskeleton may have a stamina-increasing “chairless chair” function and optional use of magnetic ball-and-socket joints and knee gas-and-torsion springs. To convert the exoskeleton system into an active wearable robotic device, modular attachments allow for motor units to be securely connected to and disconnected from the exoskeletal frame. An exoskeleton system may employ modular motor units that have a transmission system with an electromagnetic clutch that enables a passive mode, active mode, and/or hybrid mode. The motor units may be controlled using wireless biometric sensors that measure limb joint angle and muscle activity. These motor units also communicate via wireless transmission with a central processing unit of the exoskeleton.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a touch screen, a Controller Area Network (CAN) microcontroller, and an embedded computer assembly (ECA). The touch screen is configured to receive a user input. The touch screen is physically mounted directly on either side of a steering wheel of the vehicle. The CAN microcontroller is configured to communicate with a CAN bus of the vehicle. The ECA includes processing circuitry configured to obtain a user input from the touch screen and provide a control signal to the CAN microcontroller and the CAN bus of the vehicle to perform a requested vehicle function according to the user input. The touch screen and the ECA are retrofit on the vehicle and the ECA is configured to intersect, suppress, modify, or reproduce communications on the CAN bus of the vehicle.

Abstract: A solution for deteriorated non-volatile memory is shown. When a controller determines that raw data read from the non-volatile memory is undesirable data, the controller performs safety moving of valid data of an erasure unit that contains the raw data to safely move the valid data of the erasure unit, wherein the erasure unit is a high-risk block, and the raw data in the non-volatile memory is regarded as being in a deteriorated physical address. Prior to being moved in the safety moving, the raw data is changed so that it is different from the undesirable data. In an exemplary embodiment, the undesirable data is all-1's data or all-0's data.

Abstract: A system that analyzes motion of a putter and provides feedback to the golfer as a training aid to guide the golfer towards making better putting strokes. The putter may be equipped with an inertial motion sensor that captures data throughout a stroke; data may be transmitted to a processor, such as a mobile device or a server, for analysis, and feedback signals may be sent to the golfer throughout the stroke based on this analysis. For example, audio tones (generated for example by a mobile phone) may change depending on whether the putting stroke has the desired characteristics. The system may support different operating modes that provide feedback on different putting features. Illustrative modes may for example provide feedback on the putter orientation at address, on the timing of the backstroke, and on the changes in putter face orientation through the stroke.

Abstract: A self-locking drive and a linear actuator. The self-locking drive disclosed includes a housing and a drive shaft for outputting a driving force, an endcap being provided at an end portion of the housing, a self-locking mechanism configured to apply a self-locking force to the drive shaft being provided in the endcap; the self-locking mechanism includes a friction seat sleeved over the drive shaft and rotatable synchronously with the drive shaft, and a friction ring mounted in the endcap and secured to the endcap, the friction seat being interference-fitted with the friction ring to enable two-way self-locking to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a mining shovel having a boom supported by a plurality of suspension cables is disclosed. The method involves receiving accelerometer signals from a plurality of accelerometers, each accelerometer being mounted on one of the plurality of suspension cables. The method also involves processing the accelerometer signals to extract a fundamental frequency associated with vibration of each suspension cable, the fundamental frequency being proportional to a tension in the suspension cable. The method further involves determining changes in the fundamental frequency as a function of time, the changes being indicative of an operating state of the mining shovel.

Abstract: An EMI resistant electronics enclosure (200) is provided having a first compartment (206) and a second compartment (207), each defined by a body (205), being separated by a septum (208). A first aperture (209) in the septum (208) connects the first compartment (206) and the second compartment (207). A feed-through element (210) is provided having a first interface region (211) and a second interface region (212), wherein one or more primary conductors (217) extend between the first interface region (211) and the second interface region (212), and wherein the first interface region (211) resides in the first compartment (206), and the second interface region (212) resides in the second compartment (207). A conductive bar (232) circumscribes at least a portion of the feed-through element (210), and a conductive gasket (220) extends from the body (205) to the conductive bar (232), wherein a ground path is formed between the body (205) and the conductive bar (232) with the conductive gasket (220).

Abstract: A flash memory storage management method includes: providing a flash memory module including single-level-cell (SLC) blocks and at least one multiple-level-cell block such as MLC block, TLC block, or QLC block; classifying data to be programmed into groups of data; respectively executing SLC programing and RAID-like error code encoding to generate corresponding parity check codes, to program the groups of data and corresponding parity check codes to the SLC blocks; when completing program of the SLC blocks, performing an internal copy to program the at least one multiple-level-cell block by sequentially reading and writing the groups of data and corresponding parity check codes from the SLC blocks to the multiple-level-cell block according to a storage order of the SLC blocks.

Abstract: A method of a flash memory controller to be used in a storage device and coupled to a flash memory device of the storage device through a specific communication interface includes: using a set-feature signal, which carries a set-feature command, a macro execution feature address, and corresponding macro execution parameter information, as a macro execution signal and transmitting the macro execution signal to the flash memory device to make the flash memory device execute multiple set-feature operations respectively having unique information defined by the corresponding macro execution parameter information carried in the macro execution signal.

Abstract: A flash memory controller for controlling a flash memory module includes a communication interface for receiving a first data and a second data; and a processing circuit for dynamically controlling a data writing mode of the flash memory module according to an amount of stored data in the flash memory module. If the amount of stored data in the flash memory module is less than a first threshold when the communication interface receives the first data, the processing circuit controls the flash memory module so that the first data is written into the first data block under an one-bit-per-cell mode. If the amount of stored data in the flash memory module is greater than the first threshold when the communication interface receives the second data, the processing circuit controls the flash memory module so that the second data is written into the second data block under a two-bit-per-cell mode.