Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for managing and synchronizing viewing progress of a content item by multiple users. In one implementation, a user returning to a joint viewing session may be presented with options for catching up to other users in the joint viewing session, or otherwise see what the returning user previously missed.

Abstract: A set of earphones enable a user to automatically activate and/or deactivate an electronic device. The earphones comprise an electronic device controller which controls the operation of an electronic device. The controller is configured to send a signal to an electronic device activation circuit which operates the electronic device based upon a coupling status of the earbuds with the one or more magnetically attractable surfaces and/or one or more magnets. The earphones are usable with an electronic device that is able to be customized to blend in with its background such as when worn with specific clothing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01091811. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01091811. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01091811 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01091811 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.

Abstract: Inflatable balance equipment for training dogs that includes an inflatable pad in the general shape of a right rectangular prism with rounded edges and with an indentation in each of two opposite sides with each indentation spanning a height of the side it is in, and two handles unitarily using the same material as the inflatable pad with one handle positioned in each of the indentations. The inflatable pad can also include markings along either or both of the longitudinal or horizontal axis of the pad that can be used by a trainer to position the dog on the pad. A connecting device can be used to connect multiple pads together at the handles to create an array of pads.

Abstract: A surgical instrument configured to be coupled to an ultrasonic oscillation mechanism for resection of tissue under suction. A tip extends from a shaft and includes teeth formed by slots. Each of the teeth includes a distal end, a distal cutting edge, and a side cutting edge. The distal cutting edge and the side cutting edge are configured to slice the tissue with the tip moving in a first direction of combined longitudinal and torsional vibration and pull the tissue with the tip moving in the second direction opposite the first direction. An intersection of an outer edge, the distal cutting edge, and the side cutting edge defines a sharp cutting point at the distal end. A sloped surface defining the slot maintains coupling of the tip with the tissue with suction during resection of the tissue with the distal cutting edge and the side cutting edge.

Abstract: This document describes an image-capturing doorbell device. In aspects, the image-capturing doorbell device provides a compact, space-efficient, battery-powered, doorbell camera. The architecture of the image-capturing doorbell device is optimized by concentrating sensors at one end of the device and user input mechanism(s) at the opposing end of the device and including a thin and narrow middle portion between the two opposing ends. The sensors include an image sensor and a PIR sensor mounted to the same PCB for space conservation. A camera lens protrudes from an outer surface of an IR window aligned with IR LEDs to mitigate IR flare. The PIR sensor is aligned with a lens that enhances radial motion detection by implementing two stacked rows of lenslets. The user input mechanism includes a light ring formed via a two-shot molding technique with a button to bond the light ring to the button for enhanced waterproofing.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide an organic matter processing apparatus and method for the use thereof to convert organic matter into a ground and desiccated product. This can be accomplished using a bucket assembly that can grind, paddle, and heat organic matter contained therein. An air treatment system is provided to treat the air interacting with the organic matter.

Abstract: A system for redundantly detecting a gas is provided. The system includes first and second series-connected gas sensors and a signaling module. If both gas sensors are functioning normally, the signaling module provides an alert when both gas sensors detect a predetermined gas concentration. If however any one of the gas sensors is experiencing a fault condition, the faulty gas sensor's alarm is shunted by operation of a fault relay, and the signaling module provides an alert when the non-faulty gas sensor detects a predetermined gas concentration. If both gas sensors are experiencing a fault condition, both gas sensors' alarms are shunted by fault relays, and an audible and/or visual alert is generated by the signaling module. Embodiments of the present invention are well suited for industrial facilities, manufacturing facilities, research and development laboratories, and other locations where unsafe gas concentrations may become present.

Abstract: A stand including a frame including a first and second side walls and a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one slot. The at least one slot may be perpendicular to the first and second side walls and may extend through the base of the frame. The stand may include at least one adjustment component disposed below the base of the frame and extending through the at least one slot in the base of the frame. The stand may have at least one divider having a base and a wall. The base of the divider may have a bottom surface with at least one hole configured to receive the at least one adjustment component. The at least one divider may be configured to be disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall.

Abstract: Manufacturing a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses to be installable on a curved substrate such as a vehicle windshield includes placing a moldable stack of one or more lenses and adhesive layer(s) on a mold, applying heat and pressure to the moldable stack to produce a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses from the moldable stack, and removing the pre-molded stack from the mold. The pre-molded stack may have a compound curvature, which may match a curvature of the curved substrate. The mold may be formed using three-dimensional shape data derived from the curved substrate, such as by optically scanning the curved substrate.

Abstract: A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating and enhancing or improving the creativity and intelligence of a user. The creativity and intelligence of the user are evaluated by generating and evaluating mathematical representations of user answers to creativity and intelligence prompts. The mathematical representations may include positions, orientations, and scales of interactive visualization inputs and the answers may be evaluated based on the fluency, originality, elaboration, and flexibility of the answers to the prompts. The creativity and intelligence of the user are enhanced through generating user learning groups of users with similar creativity levels, generating interactive assignments, generating user workspaces for the user learning groups, verifying completed interactive assignments, and assessing the completed interactive assignments.

Abstract: Modulation of the source voltage in a NAND-flash array read waveform can enable improved read-disturb mitigation. For example, increasing the source line voltage to a voltage with a magnitude greater than the non-idle source voltage during the read operation when the array is idle (e.g., not during sensing) enables a reduction in read disturb without the complexity arising from the consideration of multiple read types. Additional improvement in FN disturb may also be obtained on the sub-blocks in the selected SGS by increasing the source line voltage during the selected wordline ramp when the array is idle.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor device, forming a combination of a connection-level dielectric layer and a connection-level metal interconnect structure over the semiconductor device, forming a line-and-via-level dielectric layer over the connection-level dielectric layer, forming an integrated line-and-via cavity through the line-and-via-level dielectric layer over the connection-level metal interconnect structure, selectively growing a conductive via structure consisting essentially of an elemental metal that is not copper from a physically exposed conductive surface located at a bottom of the via portion of the integrated line-and-via cavity without filling a line portion of the integrated line-and-via cavity, and forming a copper-based conductive line structure that includes copper at an atomic percentage that is greater than 90% in the line portion of the integrated line-and-via cavity.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining an optimal path in a mesh network. A pre-emptive message, such as a request to send (RTS) message, carrying, for example, an address of a target mobile device, may be sent from an access point to a computing device in a mesh network. The computing device may relay the RTS to the target mobile device. A clear to send (CTS) message and transmission parameters indicating channel conditions may be transmitted from the target mobile device to the access point via the computing device. The access point may determine an optimal path based on the transmission parameters and send data via the optimal path.

Abstract: Powered machine accessories and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a powered machine accessory includes an attachment apparatus configured to attach the powered machine accessory to a powered lift apparatus of a powered machine, and a support apparatus coupled with the attachment apparatus, and wherein the support apparatus is configurable into a plurality of different configurations at a plurality of different moments in time to retain a plurality of different articles upon the support apparatus at the different moments in time while the different articles are moved by the powered lift apparatus of the powered machine.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve is disclosed with a first stage valve that is in series with a second stage valve, with an enclosed cavity between the first stage valve and the second stage valve. The first stage valve relieves pressure from an enclosure into the enclosed cavity between the stages, when the pressure is above a cracking pressure of the first stage valve. The second stage relieves pressure from the enclosed cavity when the pressure is above the cracking pressure of the second stage valve.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to prediction-based resource orchestration in a service fabric are described. An example method for reducing an interruption rate associated with a customer application offered as a collection of services includes predicting one or more quiet time periods associated with each of the service replicas associated with a service fabric, where each of the one or more quiet time periods corresponds to a low value of a predicted load specifying a consumption of a metric by a respective service replica on a given node. The method further includes during the one or more quiet time periods predicted by a trained machine learning model, performing an impact-less failover for one or more of the service replicas by scheduling a move for the one or more service replicas from a first node associated with the service fabric to a second node associated with the service fabric.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for estimating audience exposure based on engagement level. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, machine readable instructions, and processor circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to identify a user activity associated with a user during exposure of the user to media based on an output from at least one of a user device, a remote control device, an image sensor, or a motion sensor, classify the user activity as an attention-based activity or a distraction-based activity, assign a distraction factor or an attention factor to the user activity based on the classification, and determine an attention level for the user based on the distraction factor or the attention factor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a humidifier device and system for regulating a microclimate in a predefined microenvironment within a predefined area. The system including a humidifier device having a vapor source configured to produce water vapor or moisture, and an airflow source configured to produce airflow, a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to measure absolute humidity data and/or temperature data; a control unit in operative communication with the humidity unit for controlling operation of the humidity unit; a specialized housing for containing the components; and a tank configured to removably couple with the housing. The system may employ sensors may located at different, predetermined positions and technology such as predictive analytics using positional data and sensed data from the various sensors for controlling humidity and regulating the microclimate. Also disclosed herein are methods for using the disclosed humidifier devices and system.