Abstract: A vent adapter for a lead-acid battery includes a first side configured to mate with a vent port of the lead-acid battery via a first connector having a first geometry; and a second side in fluid communication with the first side and configured to mate with a vent passage of an automobile via a second connector having a second geometry, wherein the first and second geometries have respective shapes that are different from one another.

Abstract: Techniques to improve detection and security of images, including formation and detection of matrix-based images. A histogram may be used to determine a most prevalent plurality of colors associated with an environment. A related plurality of colors may be determined based on the most prevalent plurality of colors. A matrix barcode may be generated based on the related plurality of colors and an ultraviolet layer.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative hinges, door assemblies, storage bins, and vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment a hinge includes a hinge bracket, a hinge pin, a hinge arm, and a detent assembly. The hinge arm is rotatably connected to the hinge bracket via the hinge pin. The detent assembly is adapted to define a detent position of the hinge arm relative to the hinge bracket that is between an open position and a closed position of the hinge arm relative to the hinge bracket. The detent assembly includes a detent plate and a plunger assembly. The detent plate includes a recess formed therein. The plunger assembly includes an end that is biased at least partially into the recess while circumferentially aligned therewith to define the detent position.

Abstract: Off-policy evaluation of a new “target” policy is performed using historical data gathered based on a previous “logging” policy to estimate the performance of the target policy. An estimator may be used, wherein either a quality-based estimator or a quality-agnostic estimator is used to weight the difference between an observed reward in the historical data and an estimated reward generated by the target policy. A quality-agnostic estimator may be used to evaluate an importance weight according to a threshold. In such examples, when the importance weight exceeds the threshold, the quality-agnostic estimator clips the importance weight at the threshold, thereby providing an fixed upper bound irrespective of the quality of the reward predictor. In other examples, a quality-based estimator is used, in which an upper bound incorporates the quality of the reward predictor in order to modify an importance weight used by the estimator.

Abstract: A method of Atomic Precision Advanced Manufacturing (APAM) is provided, in which a substrate is doped from a dopant precursor gas. The method involves covering a surface of the substrate with a hard mask, selectively removing material from the hard mask such that selected areas of the substrate surface are laid bare, exposing the laid-bare areas to the dopant precursor gas, and heating the substrate so as to incorporate dopant from the dopant precursor gas into the substrate surface.

Abstract: A controller within a refrigeration application controls temperature and humidity within a compartment of the refrigeration application. The controller may begin cooling the compartment based on a measured temperature value for the compartment. The controller may delay a starting time of an evaporator fan within the compartment based at least in part on a measured humidity value for the compartment. The controller may also adjust an operating time of a condenser fan based at least in part on the measured humidity value.

Abstract: Reflections from a display device are controlled using retarders arranged on the output side of a display panel which outputs light with a predetermined polarization state. First and second planes of incidence are defined in respect of first and second rays of light output from the device and first and second normals to first and second surfaces of optically transmissive material at first and second points at which the first and second rays of light are reflected. The retarders are selected to cause the polarization state of the first ray to be linearly polarized in a direction that is in the first plane of incidence, and to cause the polarization state of the second ray to be linearly polarized in a direction that is in the second plane of incidence. The reflections from the surfaces are minimized because for both surfaces the polarization direction is in-plane.

Abstract: A method for decoding video includes creating a first list of motion vectors from at least one neighboring block in a current frame of the video and creating a second list of motion vectors from at least one previous block in a temporally earlier frame of the video. A third list of motion vectors is created based upon the first list and the second list. Based upon receiving a motion vector competition control parameter selecting one of the motion vectors from the third list, wherein the second list of motion vectors is further based upon a flooring function.

Abstract: A system for detecting the levelness of ground engaging tools of a tillage implement including an agricultural implement including a frame and ground engaging tools supported relative to the frame. The system includes a first sensor and a second sensor configured to capture data indicative of a material flow past one or more first ground engaging tools and second ground engaging tools, respectively. The system includes a controller configured to monitor data received from the first sensor and the second sensor and compare one or more first monitored values and one or more second monitored values associated with the material flow past the first ground engaging tool(s) and the second ground engaging tool(s), respectively. The controller is further configured to identify that at least a portion of the ground engaging tools are not level when the first monitored value(s) differs from the second monitored value(s) by a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A headset includes a housing, an optical assembly disposed in the housing, and an adjustment assembly coupling the optical assembly to the housing. The optical assembly includes a first lens and a second lens spaced from the first lens by a first distance. The adjustment assembly includes an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism and an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the first distance between the first lens and the second lens along a first axis. The eye relief distance adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the optical assembly a second distance along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for identifying a counterpart entity of a transaction from a transaction string. In one example, a method may include identifying a transaction string from an account of a target entity, the transaction string comprising a record of a payment that changed a balance of the account, executing a machine learning model based on the transaction string to determine a counterpart entity of the transaction with respect to the target entity, wherein, during execution, the machine learning model receives the transaction string as input and outputs an identifier of the counterpart entity, generating a data structure comprising a first field that stores the transaction string and a second field that stores an identifier of the counterpart entity, and storing the data structure within a file.

Abstract: A game controller includes an electronic input sensor and a mounting platform. The mounting platform includes an accessory-retention feature and a sensor-activation feature. The accessory-retention feature is configured to removably affix a selected removable controller accessory to the mounting platform. The selected removable controller accessory is one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable to the mounting platform. The mounting platform is configured to move from a default posture to an activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the selected removable controller accessory when the selected removable controller accessory is affixed to the mounting platform. The sensor-activation feature interfaces with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal in the activation posture.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for cleaning oral cavities via a device with predetermined optimally imposed methods to remove germs, bacteria, tartar and plaque, which have been clinically proven to cause gum disease and tooth loss, efficiently and with minimal abrasion to tooth enamel and gums. Variations of this disclosure include but are not limited to embodiments where the device utilizes any of the aforementioned components to achieve the intended function. However, a preferred embodiment of this disclosure comprises an electrically controlled magnetic field to allow optimal contact pressure in the mouth, a motion device capable of tracking motion coordinates to record daily cleaning methods and to inform recommendations and web enabled capability to store activity over time, a scrolling toothbrush and gum cleaning device or a stationary mouth guard device applying the same force dampening and applying technology in a more automated fashion.

Abstract: A method for producing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber, the method comprising: (i) mixing PAN with an ionic liquid in which the PAN is soluble to produce a PAN composite melt in which the PAN is dissolved in the ionic liquid; (ii) melt spinning the PAN composite melt to produce the PAN fiber; and (iii) washing the PAN fiber with a solvent in which the ionic liquid is soluble to substantially remove the ionic liquid from the PAN fiber. Also described herein is a method for producing carbon fiber from the PAN fiber as produced above, the method comprising oxidatively stabilizing the PAN fiber produced in step (iii), followed by carbonizing the stabilized PAN fiber to produce the carbon fiber. The initially produced PAN fiber, stabilized PAN fiber, resulting carbon fiber, and articles made thereof are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of aligning optical components such as mirrors to facilitate proper beam alignment using an image integration optical system is used to integrate images from multiple optical features such as from both left mirror bank and right mirror bank to present the images simultaneously to the camera system. A fluorescent material may be used to render a beam footprint visible and the relative positions of the footprint and an alignment feature may be used to align the optical feature.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for user profile aggregation and inference generation. In an example, user profiles for a plurality of services may be stored by a unified profile service. An inferred user profile may be generated for a user, which may be used to provide inferred user information for inclusion in a new user profile. Accordingly, the user may not need to reenter information that may already be stored by the unified profile service. The inferred user profile may be generated based on one or more confidence levels in order to determine which user information is most likely to be accurate. In some examples, a user may update aspects of an inferred user profile and may indicate that the update should be incorporated into other user profiles stored by the unified profile service.

Abstract: A stationary control rod that controls overall nuclear reactivity and axial reactivity distribution of a fuel assembly, such that power level and axial power distribution within the fuel assembly is controlled without the need for movable control rods and associated hardware. The device uses magnetic fields to control the concentration and distribution of a magneto-rheological fluid containing a material with a very high neutron capture cross section, contained in one or more enclosed thimbles placed within existing thimbles in a fuel assembly. The magnetic fields are generated from electricity produced from interactions of the radiation particles within the core, or supplied using electrical cables that attach to fuel assembly top nozzles. The electricity drives a device that encloses associated wire coil assemblies that surround different axial regions of a tube that contains the magneto-rheological fluid.