Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for cooling a gas is disclosed. A slurry is passed through a droplet generating device to produce droplets of the slurry. The slurry comprises a contact liquid and solids. A melting point of the solids is higher than a vaporization point of the contact liquid. A carrier gas is passed across the droplets to exchange heat between the carrier gas and the droplets. At least a portion of the heat transferred to the droplets melts the solids.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) speed following system determines how much and when to apply a throttle or a brake control of an ADV to maneuver the ADV around, or to avoid, obstacles of a planned route. The speed following system calculates a first torque force to accelerate the ADV, a second torque force to counteract frictional forces and wind resistances to maintain a reference speed, and a third torque force to minimize an initial difference and external disturbances thereafter between predefined target speed and actual speed of the ADV over a planned route. The speed following system determines a throttle-brake torque force based on the first, second, and third torque forces and utilizes the throttle-brake torque force to control a subsequent speed of the ADV.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base, a sensor attached to the base, and a cover transparent to the sensor and forming a spherical joint with the base. The cover may have a partial spherical shape. The sensor assembly may include an exterior panel having a hole, and the cover may be disposed in the hole. The cover may be rotatable relative to the base about any axis extending parallel to the exterior panel.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising an image sensor, an imaging lens, an infrared light source to illuminate a scene, and an infrared autofocus system for providing an autofocus function, wherein the image sensor comprises an array of sensor pixels each arranged as dual pixel comprising two separate pixel sensors per dual pixel to record the image data as a sum signal from both pixel sensors and providing infrared data as individual signals from each of the two pixel sensors for phase contrast autofocusing, wherein an infrared filter arranged between an aperture of the imaging device and an imaging sensor and is adapted to locally transmit only a portion of the infrared light to the imaging sensor by comprising at least one first area arranged as infrared blocking area and at least one second area arranged as infrared bandpass area. The invention further relates to a method to automatically focusing this device.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and managing water delivered to users hydraulically connected via a dedicated conduit loop to a water supply source and a water heating unit via a dedicated conduit loop, the system including a mixing valve(s) hydraulically connected to the dedicated conduit loop; a first set of sensing devices operatively coupled to an input and an output of the mixing valve, wherein each sensing device of the first set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a recirculation pump hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a second set of sensing devices operatively coupled to selected portions of the dedicated conduit loop, wherein each sensing device of the second set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a pressure regulating or balancing device(s) hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a data collection system for receiving and storing sensed data transmitted by the first set of sensing devices and/or the second set of sensing d

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a traction battery that provides power to drive the vehicle, a load, and a harness having wires electrically connecting the traction battery and load, and shielding covering the wires. The power system further includes one or more control blocks that drive a signal onto the shielding, and responsive to an absence of detecting feedback from the signal, issue an interlock integrity alert.

Abstract: A computer-based method of formulating and delivering dynamic, severity-based weather peril scoring includes ingesting human-observed weather data and radar weather data, applying a grid that has a plurality of cells to a map of a geographical region to divide the geographical region into a plurality of areas, with each area being defined by a corresponding one of the grid cells, for each area/grid cell: calculating, with a computer-based processor, a first severity-weighted risk index for at least one weather peril based on the human-observed weather data, calculating, with the computer-based processor, a second severity-weighted risk index for the at least one weather peril based on the radar weather data, and blending, with the computer-based processor, the first severity-weighted risk index and the second severity-weighted risk index to produce a blended risk index.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect user attentiveness to handheld computing devices are disclosed. An example handheld computing device includes means for detecting at least one of a first orientation change of the handheld computing device or a first position change between the handheld computing device and a user, and means for comparing at least one of the first orientation change or the first position change to a plurality of spatial condition change combinations associated with respective likelihoods indicative of user attentiveness related to the handheld computing device to determine user attentiveness to a presentation on the handheld computing device, the plurality of spatial condition change combinations including a plurality of orientation changes from respective starting orientations to respective ending orientations and a plurality of position changes from respective starting positions to respective ending positions.

Abstract: The present application provides a napkin dispenser for dispensing a number of folded napkins from a sheet material to an end user. The napkin dispenser may include a loading station for loading the sheet material, a folding station for folding a napkin from the sheet material, and a presentation station for presenting one or more of the folded napkins to the end user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a safety circuit for disrupting power to a heating element of an appliance to be powered through a solid state switch (Q1), typically a triac, from an AC power source (V1) having a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle for delivering power. A low resistance condition is sensed by detecting either the current through, or voltage across, the solid state switch during the positive half cycle and the negative half cycle of the AC power line, when the solid state AC switch is not actuated. A fault signal is generated to interrupt power to the heating element, preferably by a crowbar circuit opening a fuse, whenever the low resistance condition is detected.

Abstract: Various expandable mirrors and a vehicle having the same are described. An expandable mirror may include a first pane having a first reflective surface and a second pane having a second reflective surface. The expandable mirror may also include a mechanism connected with each of the first and second panes. The mechanism may be actuated to expand a viewing area of the mirror such that the expanded viewing area includes both the first and second reflective surfaces. The expandable mirror may also include a third pane having a third reflective surface that contributes to the viewing area when the mirror is expanded. The expandable mirror may also include a manual button configured to actuate or de-actuate the mechanism when pressed. The expandable mirror may also include a positioning motor configured to adjust the orientation of the viewing area of the mirror.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for an augmented environmental awareness system to present new and important sounds to a user in an enhanced auditory experience. In one aspect, a method includes detecting a new sound that was not present in a current auditory environment before the detection, adjusting electrical input signals that are determined to be characteristic of the new sound to generated adjusted electrical signals, generating electrical output signals from the adjusted electrical signals and from the electrical input signals that are not determined to be characteristic of the new sounds, and providing the electrical output signals to audio output transducers.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling lateral tilt of a header of an agricultural machine, uses gauge wheels or skids on lateral ends of the header in combination with operation in a free float mode for maintaining uniform cut height across the header, and automatically changes to a controlled tilt mode when one or more conditions for that mode is present. During operation in the controlled tilt mode, if a condition or conditions for free float is present, the system will operate in that mode. The system can also optionally damp relative up and down movements of the gauge wheels or skids and the header on each end, and can limit the tilt in the free float mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided involving a mobile device including a touch screen, a memory, and an actuator coupled to at least one processor; said memory configured to store a plurality of applications including an application; said touch screen configured to cooperate with the at least one processor to display indicia; said touch screen configured to cooperate with the at least one processor to receive a first touch signal indicative of a first duration of touch being applied to the touch screen, in connection with the indicia; said at least one processor configured to, in response to the first touch signal indicative of the first duration of touch being applied to the touch screen, identify a first state; said touch screen configured to cooperate with the at least one processor to, in response to the identification of the first state, perform an operation; said touch screen configured to cooperate with the at least one processor to receive a second touch

Abstract: A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.

Abstract: A writing instrument assembly has a writing instrument with a body and a working tip extended or extendable from the body. A holder has a landing spot for the writing instrument. The writing instrument is magnetically and detachably retained at the landing spot when attached to the holder. The working tip is sheathed or covered automatically when the writing instrument is attached to the holder and is unsheathed or uncovered when detached from the holder.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring a system may include selecting one of a plurality of I/O slots to be allocated a number of lanes connected to a processor; and responsive to selecting the one I/O slot, sending a selection signal to a multiplexer that selects the one I/O slot from the plurality of I/O slots and configures the number of lanes for use by the one I/O slot where the number of lanes connect the one I/O slot to the processor. The system may be a data storage system and the lanes may be PCIe lanes used for data transmission. For each I/O slot, an I/O module may be inserted, removed or replaced (e.g., removed and then replaced with a new I/O card). A management controller may select the one I/O slot and send the selection signal in accordance with one or more policies. The system may support hot plug I/O modules.

Abstract: Instrumenting code. One embodiment includes identifying a line of source code having an incomplete instrumentation. A unique identifier tag is obtained from an identifier source. The unique identifier tag is inserted into the instrumentation.

Abstract: A method at an electronic device with an audio input system includes: receiving a verbal input at the device; processing the verbal input; transmitting a request to a remote system, the request including information determined based on the verbal input; receiving a response to the request, wherein the response is generated by the remote system in accordance with the information based on the verbal input; and performing an operation in accordance with the response, where one or more of the receiving, processing, transmitting, receiving, and performing are performed by one or more voice processing modules of a voice assistant library executing on the electronic device, the voice processing modules providing a plurality of voice processing operations that are accessible to one or more application programs and/or operating software executing or executable on the electronic device.