Abstract: A powered wall plate with at least two electrical plug prongs configured to removably mate with an electrical receptacle of an electrical device. A protruding front face extends from the front surface and has a plurality of electrical current apertures extending into the front face, which are configured to receive an electrical plug. A plurality of mounting screw apertures extend through the wall plate, configured to receive a plurality of mounting screws to attach the wall plate to the electrical device. One of the mounting screw apertures may be located on the front face. A spacer may be placed between the wall plate and the electrical device to close a gap. A plurality of LED lights is located along a bottom edge of the front surface, a photocell is exposed on the front surface of the wall plate, and a control switch has an on position, an off position, and an auto position.

Abstract: An LED module includes a heat sink. The heat sink has a mounting surface that defines, with respect to ambient light incident thereon, one main direction of a beam perpendicular to the mounting surface and secondary directions of the beam inclined to the main direction of the beam at angles having absolute values smaller than or equal to 90 degrees. The heat sink also has a reflection surface oriented such that, with respect to the ambient light incident on thereon, a main direction of the beam of the reflection surface is perpendicular to the reflection surface and points in a direction included in the angle range determined by the main direction of the beam of the mounting surface and the secondary directions of the beam of the mounting surface. The LED module further includes an LED light source on the mounting face and pigments on the reflection surface.

Abstract: A high strength, low density modular columnar structure. In the preferred embodiment, each module is a prism or cuboid having three or four vertical rectangular sides which meet in the module corners. The module ends perpendicular to the sides are the module faces. At least one face has a brace panel. The brace panels and the face are preferably the same shape, but off-set. A plurality of preferably triangular brace arms extends to the module corners. Each brace panel is preferably provided with a centrally located aperture. The lower face of each module is preferably provided with a lip, while the upper face is configured to receive the lip. A cylindrical column extends vertically through the center of each module, and a plurality of struts extends radially from each column. A stack of modules may be secured with a bolt run through the module apertures, an adhesive, or simply gravity.

Abstract: When instantiating a requesting process that publishes a request for a response from a responding process, a method of implementing an event-based distributed messaging service includes identifying a response topic of a distributed messaging service and generating subscriptions for the response topic where each subscription includes a subscription identifier. During runtime for the requesting process, the method publishes a request message to a request topic subscribed to by the responding process where the request message includes a unique message identifier and generates a subscriber using a respective subscription identifier of a respective subscription selected from the subscriptions where the subscriber includes the unique message identifier.

Abstract: A topical nerve activation patch includes electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and electronic circuitry configured to generate an output voltage applied to electrodes. The patch further includes a controller configured to generate a treatment comprising a plurality of activation pulses that form the output voltage, the controller comprising a first real time clock and an oscillator, the treatment comprising electrical stimuli applied to the user via the electrodes. The patch further includes a charge measurement circuit configured to measure an amount of charge applied to the user from the electrical stimuli and a communication link configured to communicate with a remote activation device, the remote activation device comprising a second real time clock. The controller is configured to generate the activation pulses by measuring time intervals using the oscillator and using the second real time clock and the measured time intervals to determine activation times for the activation pulses.

Abstract: Transaction-enabling systems and methods are disclosed. A system may include a controller to interpret a resource utilization requirement for a task system and a plurality of external data sources. The system may further include an expert system to predict a forward market price for a resource in response to the resource utilization requirement and the plurality of external data sources. Then, in response to the predicted forward market price, the controller may execute a transaction on a resource market.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware of a user device causes the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include obtaining, from a message server, an encrypted message encrypted by a single-use data encryption key (DEK) and an encrypted DEK including the single-use DEK encrypted by a public key (PK). The operations also include transmitting, to a key access control list server (KACLS), a decryption request requesting the KACLS decrypt the encrypted DEK with a PRK associated with the PK. The decryption request includes the encrypted DEK. The KACLS is independent from the message server. The operations also include receiving, from the KACLS, the single-use DEK and decrypting, using the single-use DEK, the encrypted message.

Abstract: Reel devices, systems, and related methods are disclosed. The reel devices are modular and include an automatic shift assembly that shifts to provide a mechanical advantage when used to tighten a cord. For instance, the reel devices are configured to provide a first drive ratio and automatically transition to a second drive ratio in response to a torque force. The reel devices include a drive assembly and a shift assembly. The drive assembly includes a cycloidal gear.

Abstract: A method for estimating and adjusting crop residue parameters may include controlling an operation of a tillage implement as the implement is being towed by a work vehicle across the field to perform a tillage operation and receiving a pre-tilled image of an imaged portion of the field located to one side of a first section of the field as the implement is being towed across the first section of the field. The method may also include receiving a post-tilled image of the imaged portion of the field as the implement is being towed across the field, analyzing the pre-tilled and post-tilled images of the imaged portion of the field to estimate a crop residue parameter for the field, and, when the estimated parameter differs from a target associated with such parameter, actively adjusting the operation of the tillage implement in a manner designed to adjust the crop residue parameter.

Abstract: In an aspect, data characterizing an instruction for an activation of an igniter and an operating mode of a smoke generator that includes the igniter can be received. A first amount of energy required for an ignition of a fuel source by the igniter can be determined based on the operating mode characterized by the received data. The igniter can be caused to activate based on the received data. A second amount of energy, output by the igniter over a period of time during which the igniter is activated, can be determined. A determination of whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy can be made. The igniter can be caused to deactivate in response to a determination that the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy. Related systems, apparatus, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods to enable grouping and routing of data packets are disclosed. Packets that together make up a data or content item may include grouping information that identifies or classifies the packets into a group. Grouping information may further contain information regarding maximum packet drop thresholds and instructions for a network device to follow if such a threshold is approached or exceeded. Network devices may receive and process the grouping information associated with packet groups and act in accordance with any given instructions. Network devices may intelligently decide to drop packets of one group to meet delivery thresholds for another group, including dropping all packets if necessary, or drop packets from several groups to meet delivery thresholds for all received groups. Network devices may notify other network devices about dropped packets and packet groups.

Abstract: An instrument includes: one or more scanning mirrors to receive an OCT sample beam and to scan the sample beam in two orthogonal directions; and an optical system to receive the sample beam and provide the sample beam to an eye. The optical system includes: a first lens having a first focal length, disposed along an optical path from the scanning mirror(s) to the eye at a distance from the cornea which is approximately equal to the first focal length, and a second lens disposed along the optical path between the first lens and the scanning mirror(s). The second lens receives the sample beam from the scanning mirror(s) and provides the sample beam to the first lens as a converging beam such that, as the sample beam is scanned, the sample beam passes through a pivot point located along an optical axis between the eye and the first lens.

Abstract: Traditionally, robots may learn to perform tasks by observation in clean or sterile environments. However, robots are unable to accurately learn tasks by observation in real environments (e.g., cluttered, noisy, chaotic environments). Methods and systems are provided for teaching robots to learn tasks in real environments based on input (e.g., verbal or textual cues). In particular, a verbal-based Focus-of-Attention (FOA) model receives input, parses the input to recognize at least a task and a target object name. This information is used to spatio-temporally filter a demonstration of the task to allow the robot to focus on the target object and movements associated with the target object within a real environment. In this way, using the verbal-based FOA, a robot is able to recognize “where and when” to pay attention to the demonstration of the task, thereby enabling the robot to learn the task by observation in a real environment.

Abstract: This document describes methods and systems for enabling an autonomous vehicle (AV) to determine a path to a stopping location. The AV will determine a desired stop location (DSL) that is associated with a service request. The AV's motion control system will move the AV along a path to the DSL. While moving along the path, the AV's perception system will detect ambient conditions near the DSL. The ambient conditions will be parameters associated with a stopping rule. The AV will apply the stopping rule to the ambient conditions to determine whether the stopping rule permits the AV to stop at the DSL. If the stopping rule permits the AV to stop at the DSL, the motion control system will move the AV to, and stop at, the DSL. Otherwise, the motion control system will not stop the AV at the DSL.

Abstract: A flagpole lighting assembly, including an enclosure which includes a ring-shaped base having an aperture therethrough which includes a circumferential region, and a bottom aperture interior to the circumferential region, and a cover which includes a top with an aperture therethrough, an outer wall circumferentially coupled to the top, with a larger diameter than a diameter of the circumferential region of the base, protruding downwards beyond the base, a primary protrusion extending from the top such that it is flush with the outer wall and including an aperture therethrough, and a plurality of secondary protrusions extending downward from the top, each protrusion having a brace connected to the outer wall, and a ring-shaped circuit board and a plurality of output lighted strands connected to the circuit board.

Abstract: A wall system for a building (such as an exterior façade for a building) may include a frame structure configured for attachment to the building. The frame structure may include a plurality of horizontal frame elements, a plurality of vertical frame elements, and an energy distribution system including an elongated conductive bar at least partially positionable within at least one of the horizontal frame elements or at least one of the vertical frame elements. The system may include one or more access elements positionable to engage the elongated conductive bar to receive electricity or a data signal from the elongated conductive bar. The frame structure may support infills that connect to the elongated conductive bar and use or produce electricity.

Abstract: An assembly for a papermaking machine includes: a seal strip with an upper surface configured to provide a seal for a suction roll; a seal strip holder, the seal strip residing in the seal strip holder and movable relative thereto; and a wear monitoring system. The wear monitoring system may include a magnet and magnetic field sensors or an ultrasonic transducer to monitor movement of the seal strip relative to the holder, thereby indicating wear.

Abstract: An authentication server may use secure messaging with a remote device prior to authorizing non-secure communications between the remote device and a content server, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the content server. The secure messaging uses such security features as encryption, signatures with authentication certificates, a realm, and/or a nonce. Once non-secure communication is authorized, the remote device may act as a proxy between the content server and a user device connected to the remote device. The authentication server sends timeout notices to the remote device containing an interval and a key. To continue non-secure communications with the content server, the remote device must respond prior to the expiration of the interval by sending a keep-alive message containing the key to the authentication server.