Abstract: A ball screw having a threaded stem including a ball groove formed in an outer surface thereof, a ball nut including a central bore formed by an inner surface thereof, the inner surface defining a ball groove, a first recess extending inwardly from an end face of the ball nut and into the ball groove of the inner surface, and a stop pin disposed in the first recess so that a first end of the stop pin extends inwardly into the ball groove of the inner surface of the ball nut, wherein the stop pin is formed by a coiled strip of metal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preparing composites from solid elastomer(s) and wet filler(s), as well as products, including composites, vulcanizates, and articles therefrom. The wet filler can have a liquid content of at least 15%. A resulting composite comprises the filler dispersed in the elastomer at a loading of at least 20 phr with a filler yield loss of no more than 10%, wherein the composite has a liquid content of no more than 10% by weight based on total weight of said composite.

Abstract: In a method of group creation for a pair of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned aerial vehicle-controller (UAV-C) in a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) architecture, the pair of UAV and UAV-C is determined by an unmanned aerial system application enabler (UAE) server in the SEAL architecture. A group creation request for the pair of UAV and UAV-C is transmitted by the UAE server to a SEAL group management (GM) server of the SEAL architecture. A first response message is received by the UAE server from the SEAL GM server for the group creation request. A group including the pair of the UAV and the UAV-C is created for quality-of-service (QoS) management. The group creation request includes an identity of an UAE client corresponding to the pair of UAV and UAV-C, an identity of the UAV, and an identity of the UAV-C.

Abstract: A system and method for contemporaneous and combined in-store shopping among multiple individuals uses: a central server that is in communication with a database storing information associated with products located within a physical store (in-store products); and a plurality of mobile devices, with each mobile device being located within the physical store and in communication with the central server. A communication to the central server from one of the mobile devices initializes a combined shopping session in which two or more mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices located within the physical store are used to scan in-store products. Information associated with each in-store product scanned by the two or more mobile devices is retrieved from the database and added to one of a plurality of individual shopping transactions. The information within the plurality of individual shopping transactions is subsequently combined into a single, combined shopping transaction.

Abstract: A method of defoaming a system subject to foaming by using a defoamer composition is disclosed. The defoamer composition contains (a) 80 to 100 wt. % of a decarboxylated rosin acid (DCR) having a density of 0.9 to 1.0 g/cm3, a flash point of 135 to 175° C., an acid value of <50 mg KOH/g, measured according to ASTM D465, and a viscosity of 15 to 60 cSt at 40° C., measured according to ASTM D-445; and (b) 0 to 20 wt. % based on total weight of the defoamer composition of at least one component selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles, surfactants, hydrophobic compounds, and mixtures thereof. The defoamer composition is very effective in controlling unwanted foam formation or reduce already formed foam in the system.

Abstract: A method of estimating a performance characteristic of a wheel of a vehicle, includes selecting relevant input features based on wheel dynamics and tire behavior, and collecting experimental data for each of the relevant input features at each of a plurality of vehicle operating conditions. The method further includes manually identifying and labeling wheel stability status over time from the experimental data and calculating tractive limit over time from the experimental data. The method also includes training a tractive limit model and training a wheel stability status model. The method further includes receiving a plurality of testing inputs, wherein each of the plurality of testing inputs is received from a sensor on-board the vehicle or from a controller on-board the vehicle and, processing the received testing inputs in a predetermined machine learning process to calculate in one or more data processors a prediction of the performance characteristic.

Abstract: An attraction system of an amusement park includes a viewing area, a virtual area, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter is positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area through the beam splitter and visibility of a portion of the virtual area via reflection off the beam splitter. The attraction system also includes a controller configured to perform operations. The operations include generating image data that is distorted in correlation to a distortive parameter associated with a first element disposed in the viewing area. The distortive parameter is indicative of a distortion applied by the first element to light interacting with the first element. The operations also include transmitting the image data to cause display of a second element in the virtual area.

Abstract: A weight-bearing system for hanging items from the roof structure of a metal building is disclosed. The system includes a purlin with at least one flange, a span aperture in the vertical span of the purlin, a clip that attaches to the purlin using the span aperture, and a fastener on the clip for transferring weight applied to the fastener to the clip and to the vertical span of said purlin.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes strand mounts for small cell radios. The strand mount assembly includes a cable strand and a strand mount. The strand mount includes two or more interconnected frame sections that form a frame, each frame section having opposing sides configured such that one or more small cell radios and/or antennas can be mounted thereto. The strand mount further includes a plurality of mount apertures sized and configured to receive the cable strand. Each of the mounting apertures is collinear with the other mounting apertures to create an unimpeded opening that the cable strand extends through, thereby mounting the strand mount on the cable strand. Alternative strand mounts and strand mount assemblies are also described.

Abstract: A power converter includes an input coupled to an inductor, a first switch coupled to a first comparator, and a second switch coupled to a second comparator. The power converter also includes a pulse comparison counter coupled to the first comparator and the second comparator and a synchronous rectifier (SR) calculator coupled to the pulse comparison counter. The synchronous rectifier calculator is operable to modify a conduction time of the first switch during a first AC half-cycle and modify a conduction time of the second switch during a second AC half-cycle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and a method of operating thereof may include determining a first ratio at which to operate a vehicle system at a first location along a route along which the vehicle system moves. The first ratio may be based on an amount of a first fuel of a first fuel source relative to an amount of a second fuel of a second fuel source. The vehicle system may be powered by one or more of the first or the second fuel sources. First operational settings at which to control the vehicle system may be determined based on the first ratio between the first and second fuel sources at the first location along the route. Operation of the vehicle system may be controlled according to the first operational settings to move the vehicle system according to the first ratio at the first location along the route.

Abstract: Seal assemblies, gaskets, bearing assemblies, and their components can be used as pre-packaged seal systems and pre-packaged seal and bearing systems. The seal assemblies can be orientated in different configurations for different applications. Gaskets or washers to restrict flow and gaskets or washers with memory lips to operate as sealing lips can be included to increase the number of sealing points. In a pre-packaged configuration, the cylinder can be a straight cylinder, a stepped cylinder, or a split cylinder. Bearing assemblies can be pre-packaged with the sealing assemblies and service grease may optionally be used to provide lubrication and limit fluid incursion into the spring cavities.

Abstract: A biased connector assembly is disclosed that includes a receptacle configured to mount to a substrate and form an electrical connection therewith, and a plug connector. The receptacle includes a cage that defines a port having a connector positioned therein. The connector may include a slot that is aligned with the port. The port includes one or more biasing members positioned therein. The plug connector includes a pluggable transceiver module to be inserted into the port and a card with at least one contact pad configured to engage with a terminal of the connector. The one or more biasing members may bias the plug module away from the connector such that a stub length of the contact pad is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for signing documents using mobile devices. A request is sent to a certificate authority for a signing certificate. The signing certificate is then received from the certificate authority. The signing certificate is then stored in the memory. Next, a file is received from a client application executed by the processor of the computing device. Then, the file is signed with the signing certificate to create a signed file. The signed file is then returned to the client application.

Abstract: Systems and methods improve performance of a classifier, which comprises a neural network and is trained through machine learning. First and second scores are computed, by the classifier, for each a multiple data examples from a generator. The first score is indicative of whether the data example belongs to a first data cluster and the second score is indicative of whether the data example belongs to a second data cluster. The generator is trained with an objective such that, for each data example generated by the generator, the first and second scores computed by the classifier are equal. Partial derivatives from the classifier are back-propagated for multiple data examples generated by the generator, to obtain a vector, for each data example, that is orthogonal to a decision surface for the classifier. A problem with the classifier is detected based on changes in directions of the vectors.

Abstract: A sublimation/distillation apparatus including a crucible with an open end, a heating device thermally coupled to the crucible, an actively cooled collection substrate disposed above the open end of the crucible, and a vacuum chamber housing the crucible, the heating device, and the actively cooled collection substrate.

Abstract: A carrier device includes: a first panel having hooks, and an inward side, the inward side facing an interior of the carrier device; a second panel having an inward side, the inward side facing the interior of the carrier device opposite the inward side of the first panel; and a binding member for releasably connecting the hooks of the first panel to the second panel. The first panel includes an exterior surface opposite the inward side thereof. All portions of the hooks are flush or sunken relative to the exterior surface of the first panel. The binding member draws lateral edges of the first panel toward lateral edges of the second panel to maintain frictional engagement of an inserted magazine or other article with interior contact points of the carrier device. The panels may include mounting holes for mounting the carrier on another device or structure.

Abstract: A device having an optical element with a conductive coating. The device may include an optical element, a conductive material and at least one connector. The conductive material is disposed on at least a portion of the optical element. The optical element, for example, may be an object lens of an endoscope or an optical coupler. The connectors (acting as terminal(s)) are capable of providing energy (such as electrical energy) to the conductive material. In one aspect, the conductive material is an optically transparent material. Advantageously, the device may allow visualization of an object—such as body tissue or other matter—concurrent with the application of energy to the object via the conductive coating. This allows the user to observe the alteration of tissue and other matter in real time as the energy is delivered.

Abstract: One example provides, on a scanning mirror display system, a method for communicating timing information for light samples that are scanned to form a displayed image. The method comprises, for a line of light samples, encoding timing information for a first light sample of the line of light samples using a first, greater number of bits to form encoded timing information for the first light sample. The method further comprises encoding timing information for a subsequent light sample of the line of light samples by computing a derivative based upon a timing of the subsequent light sample compared to a prior light sample, encoding the derivative using a second, lesser number of bits to form encoded timing information for the subsequent light sample, and sending the information for the first light sample and the subsequent light sample across the communications channel.