Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a possibility of hydrocarbon (HC) release to atmosphere from an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method may include, isolating a fuel vapor canister of the EVAP system from atmosphere and an engine intake manifold upon conditions being met for a potential hydrocarbon (HC) breakthrough from the fuel vapor canister.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for synchronizing audio and video content on multiple media devices are provided.

Abstract: An image sensor may include a pixel array having pixels arranged in rows and columns, column readout circuitry, and control circuitry. Column readout circuitry may include corresponding readout circuits each coupled to a corresponding column path for a respective column of pixels. The readout circuits may each include signal processing circuits such as correlated double sampling circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry. To reduce peak-to-average power ratio, during the signal processing operations for each pixel row, the control circuitry may control the signal processing circuits to perform time-domain multiplexing across the pixel columns to activate the signal processing circuits at varied times within the row time. If desired, the pattern of time-domain multiplexing may be varied across the signal processing operations for different pixel rows and/or for different image frames.

Abstract: This document describes textile assemblies for speakers, including textile assemblies with inlaid tensioning yarns, and associated apparatuses and methods. The textile assembly includes a textile body (106) with inlaid tensioning yarns (302, 304). The textile assembly (102) may be a fully-fashioned textile swatch. The tensioning yarns are inlaid at intervals in the textile body but can slide within or be pulled through the textile body. Further, the tensioning yarns have ends (306, 308, 402, 404) that are accessible near the edges of the textile body for various reasons. First, pulling on them while the textile assembly is on an acoustic device (104) tensions the tensioning yarns such that they limit movement of the textile assembly and break up vibration modes. Second, their ends can be tied directly to, formed into loops to hook over, or wound around, features (208) on the acoustic device to removably secure the textile assembly to the acoustic device.

Abstract: Detachable auxiliary power systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the power system comprises a housing with a cavity, and a detachable portion configured to be received into the cavity. The detachable portion includes a power source such as a rechargeable battery, and may include additional electrical circuits to manage the charge and discharge of the battery. The housing includes a cable for electrically connecting the housing to an external electrical system, such as a vehicle electrical system. When the detachable portion is inserted into the housing, it is electrically connected to the cable, and so able to be charged from the external electrical system, and selectively provide power from the power source to the external electrical system, such as for jump-starting a vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging an electric vehicle includes a plug command center having data identifying an availability of an amount of energy which is available for transfer from a first battery system of a first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to a second BEV. A charging adapter provides for energy transfer between a first plug of the first BEV and a second plug of the second BEV. A V2V charging controller communicates data identifying a battery system charge state of the first BEV and a battery system charge state of the second BEV and selects between multiple available charging options.

Abstract: A system includes a seat belt routing module and a user interface device (UID) control module. The seat belt routing module is configured to: determine a routing of a seat belt relative to an occupant in a vehicle seat based on input from a webbing payout sensor; and determine the seat belt routing based on an input from an in-cabin sensor. The in-cabin sensor includes at least one of a camera, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, and a lidar sensor. The UID control module is configured to control a user interface device to indicate that the seat belt is being worn improperly when: the seat belt routing determined using at least one of the webbing payout sensor and the in-cabin sensor is improper; and the seat belt routing determined using the webbing payout sensor corresponds to the seat belt routing determined using the in-cabin sensor.

Abstract: A cartridge of an e-vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir in the housing, a heater in the housing, and an absorbent material at least partially surrounding the sinusoidal shaped member. The reservoir is configured to store a pre-vapor formulation. The heater has a sinusoidal shaped member translating about an elliptical shape to define a channel there through. The absorbent material is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method of varied terms and conditions of a subsidized loan includes a data collection circuit structured to receive data related to a plurality of items of collateral; a collateral classification circuit structured to identify, among the plurality of items of collateral, at least one group of related items of collateral, wherein each member of the at least one group shares a common attribute; and a smart contract circuit structured to create a smart lending contract, wherein the smart lending contract defines a subset of items of collateral as security for a set of loans, wherein the subset of items of collateral is selected from the at least one group of related items of collateral.

Abstract: A method and system of handling an alternative pick-up using vehicle information is disclosed. Imaging data is received from at least one imaging device. The at least one imaging device is configured to provide a field-of-view of a predetermined area associated with a retail location. A vehicle identifier for each vehicle within the image data is extracted and compared to each user profile associated with an order in a set of orders. Each user profile includes a primary vehicle identifier and at least one secondary vehicle identifier and the extracted vehicle identifier is compared to the at least one secondary vehicle identifier in each user profile. The extracted vehicle identifier is associated with a first order in the set of orders when the extracted vehicle identifier matches the secondary vehicle identifier of the user profile of the first order.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for labeling point clouds using distance field data. One of the methods includes obtaining a point cloud characterizing a region of the environment, the point cloud comprising a plurality of points; obtaining distance field data specifying, for each of a plurality of locations in the region of the environment, a distance from the location to a nearest static object in the environment; determining, using the distance field data and for each of the plurality of points, a respective distance from the point to a nearest static object in the environment to the point; and identifying, based on the respective distances for the plurality of points in the point cloud, one or more of the points as candidate dynamic object points that are likely to be measurements of a dynamic object in the environment.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for automating a sliding window having window components comprising a stationary pane component, a sliding pane component and a window frame component. The mechanism includes a telescoping mounting assembly attached to a first of the window components. The telescoping mounting assembly includes a housing and one or two extension arms, selectively extensible from the housing to either one or both sides of the first window component. A motor is disposed within the housing driving a first gear. Either one or two telescoping drive shafts are disposed within the extension arms, each having a gear on one end of the telescoping drive shaft driven by the first gear and having a gear on an opposite end of the telescoping drive shaft that engages a rack mounted on one side of a second of the window components. The telescoping drive shafts are coupled to the extension arms and are therefore selectively extensible with first extension arms.

Abstract: A seed planter assembly for planting seeds in rows throughout a field includes at least one tank for storing the seeds and a seed hose in communication with the at least one tank for delivering the seeds to the field. The seed planter assembly also includes a support frame for supporting the at least one tank and the seed hose, and a linkage assembly (e.g., including a four-bar linkage) coupled with the support frame and the at least one tank. The linkage assembly is configured for lifting the at least one tank from a first orientation proximate to a support surface to a second orientation spaced farther apart from the support surface. The seed planter assembly can also include an actuator (e.g., a hydraulic actuator) connected between the support frame and the linkage assembly for moving the at least one tank between the first orientation and the second orientation.

Abstract: Method and coated lightweight granular absorbent formed of lightweight inner cores made of extruded pellets coated with powdered smectite, preferably bentonite, to form an outer sorbent smectite shell around each pellet producing lightweight sorbent granules where the pellets have sufficient water soluble binder to facilitate shell formation and clumping during sorbent use. When lightweight sorbent granules are wetted, clumps are formed that shrink during drying producing a clean, generally non-sticking clump having a high clump retention rate of at least 92% and/or a crush strength of at least 15 PSI. In a preferred method, the pellets are dried coated with dry powdered smectite before wetting using an atomizer or mister while turbulently directing air towards the pellets and powdered smectite to coat the pellets with the powdered smectite forming the outer sorbent shell while minimizing pellet shrinkage and densification. Such lightweight granular sorbent is well suited for use as litter.

Abstract: A method for training a generative adversarial network (GAN)-based text-to-speech (TTS) model and a speech recognition model in unison includes obtaining a plurality of training text utterances. At each of a plurality of output steps for each training text utterance, the method also includes generating, for output by the GAN-Based TTS model, a synthetic speech representation of the corresponding training text utterance, and determining, using an adversarial discriminator of the GAN, an adversarial loss term indicative of an amount of acoustic noise disparity in one of the non-synthetic speech representations selected from the set of spoken training utterances relative to the corresponding synthetic speech representation of the corresponding training text utterance. The method also includes updating parameters of the GAN-based TTS model based on the adversarial loss term determined at each of the plurality of output steps for each training text utterance of the plurality of training text utterances.

Abstract: A system and method for beam switching by a User Terminal (UT). The method includes initiating a beam switch between an old beam and a new beam when the UT is disposed in an overlap area of the old beam and the new beam; duplicating over the new beam, at a Network Access Point (NAP), user traffic to the UT; and assigning a Time Division Multiplex Access (TDMA) allocation for the UT on the new beam, prior to an arrival of the UT on the new beam, where the user traffic traversing a satellite network remains uninterrupted during the beam switch and the NAP redirects user traffic for the UT via the old beam to the new beam.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of apple tree is described and denominated SPINK754. The new variety exhibits an attractive and intense color, harvesting 1 to 2 weeks prior to the standard variety, and strong post-harvest preservation when grown under the conditions prevailing in the central valley of Chile.