Abstract: The bidirectional synchronous soft-switching DC-to-DC buck-boost controller of the present disclosure comprises a means for controlling electronic switches for synchronous voltage rectification on both electrical sides of the regulator (the high-voltage side and the low-voltage side). This allows the controller to use carefully-timed switches, in conjunction with other circuit components such as inductors and capacitors, to regulate energy flow. The controller also contains a means for sensing voltage on both of said sides. This allows the controller to determine the optimal switching rate for a given operating mode via an algorithm. The algorithm is executed electronically using a means such as, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a parallel processor.

Abstract: A self-activating fault protection circuit for an electrical charging system for an on-vehicle rechargeable energy storage device that includes a DC-DC boost converter is described. The self-activating fault protection circuit includes, in one embodiment, an electrical connector including a positive cable and a negative cable, high-voltage electric power bus, and a self-activating fault protection circuit including a high-voltage diode. The DC-DC boost converter is electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device via the high-voltage electric power bus, and the electrical connector is electrically connected to the DC-DC boost converter via the positive cable and the negative cable. The high-voltage diode is arranged in the negative cable between the electrical connector and the DC-DC boost converter.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a process for densifying co-precipitated material comprised of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and at least one stabilizing excipient using thin film evaporation, and the densified co-precipitates made thereby. Bulk density and flowability of co-precipitates can be increased by processing the co-precipitated material using thin film evaporation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a piston, and a cylinder head. The engine block includes a cylinder block having a cylinder bore, a crankcase defining a crankcase chamber with a crankshaft positioned within the crankcase chamber, and a cylinder sleeve fabricated from a self-lubricating plastic material. The cylinder head is coupled to the cylinder block to form a combustion chamber. The piston includes a piston top adjacent the combustion chamber, a piston body including a wrist pin hole configured to receive a wrist pin, a first piston ring positioned on the piston body, and a non-metallic gasket positioned on the piston body closer to the combustion chamber than the first piston ring and structured to prevent combustion gases from escaping the combustion chamber. The crankcase chamber is oilless.

Abstract: A battery mounting structure includes a shear plate and a plurality of separate reinforcement plates. The shear plate extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and includes a first thickness. The reinforcement plates are configured to be disposed between the shear plate and the battery housing assembly and are mounted on an upper surface of the shear plate. The reinforcement plates are spaced apart from each other and include a second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: An artificial bait material for use in a simulated bait assembly. The artificial bait material includes a body that is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) such as PLASTISOL. In addition, the artificial bait material include a thread component having a first portion that is formed within the body of the artificial bait material, and a second portion that extends out of and away from the body. In this configuration, for example, the material can be used to form a fly lure by tying the second portion of the thread component directly to the hook or barb of the lure with fly tying thread, without having to wrap either thread around the body of the artificial bait material. As a result, the fly tying thread can be tightly tied to the hook or barb without risk of cutting through the body of the artificial bait material.

Abstract: An adapter pad system including a roller bearing adapter and a roller bearing adapter pad for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck.

Abstract: A vortex metal insertion system for a metal recycling furnace, the system having a molten metal flow cycling through the furnace and through a vortex bowl in the system. The system includes one or more process sensors in the furnace, an automated molten metal flow adjustment device, and a computer controller. The computer controller reads the sensor(s) and adjusts the adjustment device to control the flow of molten metal through the vortex bowl based on the reading(s). The system has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably inserted into the molten metal flow.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a current picture, a first reference picture, and a second reference picture. The method includes obtaining a plurality of predefined weighting patterns, each weighting pattern being signaled as an index value and selecting a weighting pattern based on a predetermined condition. The method includes deriving a first weight to be applied to a first sub-block in the first reference picture and a second weight to be applied to a second sub-block in the second reference picture based on the index value corresponding to the selected weighting pattern. The method includes assigning the first weight to the first sub-block and the second weight to the second sub-block based on the selected weighting pattern. The method includes decoding the current block by a weighted bi-prediction based at least on the first sub-block weighted by the first weight and the second sub-block weighted by the second weight.

Abstract: This document describes systems and techniques directed at an external wide-angle lens for imagers in electronic devices. An imager is disclosed that includes an image sensor and a lens stack, the lens stack including an external wide-angle lens, an internal lens, and four or more intermediate lenses. The imager has a first ratio of a projection at a vertex of the external wide-angle lens divided by a maximum focused dimension of the focal area being less than or equal to 0.15, a second ratio of a total length of the lens stack divided by the maximum focused dimension being less than or equal to 7.0, or a third ratio of a total transmission length of the imager divided by an entrance pupil diameter of the external wide-angle lens being between 1.2 and 2.6.

Abstract: A charging system includes a server that receives information from a plurality of charging stations and a plurality of electric vehicles. The server is configured to analyze the information to predict and schedule future charging services for one or more electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles. The server is further configured to predict an amount of electrical energy needed for future charging services for the one or more electric vehicles. The server is further configured to instruct the predicted service stations that will provide the service to store a portion of the predicted required electrical energy in a respective battery bank associated with the service station for delivery to an electric vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an exhaust vent assembly including a clamp, a sleeve, a neck, a damper in the neck, a cap attached to the neck and a collar. The exhaust vent assembly may be configured without any penetrative fasteners. The invention is further directed to a clamp for attachment to round duct and a building surface to provide strength, rigidity and support to the round duct.

Abstract: An approach for encoding/decoding video data, performed by at least one processor, including: obtaining video data; parsing the video data into blocks, wherein the blocks are associated with reference picture lists; generating a warp model used for a first reference picture list and a second reference picture list of a current block, included in the reference picture lists, based on motion vectors of the current block and adjacent blocks to the current block; decoding a frame among the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list by applying the warp model to the frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein for processing of codes stored within security objects may involve scanning a multitude of codes using the security object. When the codes have been scanned, the security object may store the codes until the mechanism is triggered by, for example, detection of a code processing device. As the security object cycles through the stored codes, it may detect a sound from the code processing device, and then a subsequent sound indicating that a first code and a second code have been processed. The security object may determine whether some codes (e.g., between the first code and the second code) may have been skipped and based on that determination, the security object may update cycling time (e.g., time each code is displayed) and then cycle through the other codes.

Abstract: The described techniques and apparatuses enable memory-request priority up-leveling. A memory request is received over a virtual channel, VC, and is then added to a memory-request buffer with an original priority-level for the memory request and an indication that the memory request is associated with a virtual channel identification, VCID, of the VC. Related memory requests within the memory-request buffer are also indicated as being associated with the VCID. Responsive to determining that an up-level indication for the VCID is asserted over a side channel, the original priority-levels of the memory request, and other memory-requests in the memory-request buffer having an indication of the VCID, are increased to respective up-leveled priority levels. Responsive to determining that the up-level indication is no longer asserted, the up-leveled priority levels are returned to respective original priority-levels.

Abstract: A method including sublimating or distilling an ytterbium composition from an initial solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium in an inert or reduced pressure environment and at a first average temperature for a first sublimation/distillation period to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the initial solid composition, collecting the ytterbium composition; retaining the ytterbium composition for a waiting period to form a decayed ytterbium composition, wherein the waiting period is longer than the first sublimation/distillation period; and subsequent to the waiting period, sublimating or distilling a refined ytterbium composition from the decayed ytterbium composition in an inert or reduced pressure environment and at a second average temperature for a second sublimation/distillation period to leave a waste composition.

Abstract: A building elevation system having a load distributing apparatus and a lifting apparatus. The load distributing apparatus can support a roof assembly and include one or more load segments. The lifting apparatus can be removably coupled to the load distributing apparatus and move the load distributing apparatus from a first position to a second position. The lifting apparatus can include a base portion, a hydraulic cylinder having a first end and a second end, and a lifting frame. The first end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotably connected to the base portion and the second end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotably connected to the lifting frame. The load distributing apparatus can include one or more additional elements, including but not limited to a slidable extension portion. The load distributing apparatus can have a step down member to couple a plurality of load segments at different planes.

Abstract: A piling head puller device comprises an elongated cylindrical rod having drive head at a proximal end thereof, an upper section having smooth outer surface portion between the drive head and a stop flange, and a lower section having a threaded outer surface portion rom the stop flange to the distal end. The piling head puller device includes a swiveling lifting element having a pull ring and a bearing washer, which defines a glide hole through which the elongated cylindrical rod extends and moves axially freely between the drive head and the stop flange, such that the pull ring is positionable at an angle to avoid obstruction with the elongated cylindrical rod. Rotation of the drive head removably embeds the threaded outer surface portion into a wooden piling head. A hoist can pull the lifting element which bears on the drive head to remove the wooden piling from the ground.

Abstract: A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe.

Abstract: An integrated electrified propulsion system for a vehicle includes a single electric machine, a mechanical geartrain, a rechargeable energy storage device, an integrated cooling system, and a power electronics system. The single electric machine, the mechanical geartrain, the integrated cooling system, the rechargeable energy storage device, and the power electronics system are arranged in a single housing. The single electric machine is rotatably coupled to the mechanical geartrain to transfer mechanical power therebetween.