Abstract: An actuator mechanism of a vehicle latch assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft. Also included is a worm coupled to the output shaft. Further included is a worm gear driven by the worm. Yet further included is a spring operatively coupled to the worm gear and to a latch housing, the spring having a first leg extending through an aperture defined by the worm gear and a second leg extending into a receiving hole defined by the housing, the first leg including a first segment extending along a first leg axis and a second segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to the first leg axis, the second segment contacting a face of the worm gear to prevent removal of the spring.

Abstract: Presented are fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite components for motor vehicles, methods for making and using such components, and motor vehicles with unitary FRP-composite vehicle roof rail-and-panel structures. A vehicle body structure for a motor vehicle includes one or more elongated support rails, each of which includes at least two contoured rail panels that are joined together to define therebetween an internal rail cavity. At least one of these contoured rail panels is formed with an FRP material. The vehicle body structure also includes a body panel that is formed with the same FRP material. The body panel includes a main panel section with one or more stepped interfaces that each projects transversely from a respective side of the main panel section and mounts thereon one of the contoured rail panels. The body panel and a contoured rail panel of each support rail are integrally formed as a single-piece, unitary structure.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a radial blower unit configured to exhaust air radially from an inlet axis of the radial blower unit. The fan assembly also includes baffles each partially surrounding the radial blower unit. The baffles are rotatable between an open position and a closed position around respective pivot axes, and the baffles have respective centers of mass aligned with the respective pivot axes.

Abstract: An apparatus in one embodiment stores a first version of an operating system data structure comprising a first identifier of a logical storage device associated with a first access protocol, and in conjunction with migration of the logical storage device from utilization of the first access protocol to utilization of a second access protocol, temporarily continues to present information from the first version of the operating system data structure in response to one or more requests relating to the logical storage device, obtains a second identifier of the logical storage device associated with the second access protocol, stores a second version of the operating system data structure comprising the second identifier of the logical storage device associated with the second access protocol, and switches from presenting information from the first version of the operating system data structure to presenting information from the second version of the operating system data structure.

Abstract: A window treatment system includes a roller tube, a covering material, a motor drive unit, and an idler. The covering material is coupled to the roller tube such that the covering material is configured to be wound and unwound from the roller tube when the roller tube rotates. The motor drive unit is configured to rotate the roller tube. The idler includes a bearing sleeve, a bearing, a bearing retainer, and a pin. The bearing sleeve and the roller tube rotate together. The bearing sleeve includes a cavity and a flange. The bearing is disposed at least partially within the cavity and also defines a bore. The bearing retainer is disposed between the flange and an outboard face of the bearing to maintain the bearing's position. The pin is disposed in the bore such that the bearing sleeve and the roller tube rotate with respect to the pin.

Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a LIDAR measurement unit, a reference measurement unit, and a phase cancellation unit. The LIDAR measurement unit estimates a time for which a laser beam travels. The reference measurement unit determines a phase of a laser source. The phase cancellation unit identifies phase noise and cancels the phase noise from the laser beam, at least partially based on the phase of the laser source and the time for which the laser beam travels. The denoised signal is used to determine the range between a laser source and a target.

Abstract: The present invention is a modified potentiometer shaft that includes a light source for illuminating the top of the shaft. The shaft further includes electrical connections for providing power to the light source through the potentiometer assembly.

Abstract: A remote eye examination method includes initiating a remote chat session between a local computing device coupled to a phoropter, and a remote computer, and initializing the phoropter for remote control by the remote computer. Then, a multi-colored lamp is activated in a first color until a determination that a refractory examination utilizing the phoropter has commenced. Thereafter, responsive to a determination that the examination has commenced, the multi-colored lamp changes to a second color, and movement of portions of the phoropter are commanded as directed by the remote computer, data is recorded into a patient record and a progression of the examination monitored. Finally, on condition that a threshold period of time before a conclusion of the refractory examination is detected, the multi-colored lamp changes to a third color and upon conclusion of the examination, a message transmitted to a remote account indicating access to the patient record.

Abstract: An occupant classification system comprises a capacitive sensor configured to measure capacitance. The capacitive sensor is at least partially arranged between a seat frame and at least one of a seat cover and a seat cushion of a seat. A sensor is configured to measure at least one of weight and pressure on the seat. The sensor is at least partially arranged between a vehicle structure and a component of the seat. A controller is configured to generate an occupant classification based on the measured capacitance and the at least one of the measured weight and the measured pressure on the seat.

Abstract: An ATM device may receive a request to process an ATM transaction; dispense, via an instrument dispenser, a plurality of instruments based on the request; perform image segmentation of one or more images of an area surrounding the instrument dispenser, wherein the image segmentation is performed using a deep learning network trained using synthetic models of hands; detect, based on performing the image segmentation, that a user's hand approaches the instrument dispenser after dispensing the plurality of instruments; determine, after dispensing the plurality of instruments and after detecting that the user's hand approaches the instrument dispenser, that a portion of the plurality of instruments is present at the instrument dispenser; and perform one or more actions based on determining that the portion of the plurality of instruments is present at the instrument dispenser.

Abstract: A drive unit assembly. The drive unit assembly includes one or more first motors drivingly connected to at least a first end portion of a first shaft. A planetary gear assembly having a sun gear, one or more planetary gears, a ring gear and a carrier. At least a portion of the sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second end portion of the first shaft and the carrier is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the one or more planetary gears. A differential input member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the carrier and a differential assembly. At least a portion of a first axle half shaft is drivingly connected to the differential and is disposed within a hollow portion of said first shaft and a second axle half shaft is drivingly connected to the differential assembly.

Abstract: A connector for repeatedly attaching and detaching a head to and from a handle of a manual oral care implement has an outer surface and a recess. The recess forms a cavity within the connector, wherein the cavity comprises a spring-loaded ball-snap element, the element comprising a ball and a spring, the spring applying a radial force onto the ball in a direction towards the outer surface of the connector.

Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon-oxygen structures by the Decomposition of Carbon Dioxide Gas at low pressure, from 14.7 to 100 psi, using laser irradiation in the mid-infrared spectrum, from 2.3 to 3.3 microns.

Abstract: Improved urease inhibitors comprise one or more polymers containing alkenylphenyl sulfonate repeat units, which may be applied to or mixed with a variety of urea-containing fertilizers in order to substantially prevent urea decomposition when applied to soil. The inhibitors may be in the form of homopolymers such as polystyrene sulfonate, or as copolymers containing alkenylphenyl sulfonate and other, different repeat units. The inhibitor polymers may be in free acid, partial salt, or complete salt forms, and are water soluble.

Abstract: A holder for connecting a rack manifold of an electronic rack and a room manifold of a data center room to provide liquid cooling to the electronic rack includes an L-shaped frame with a first arm having a first end and a second end, and a second arm extending from the second end of the first arm and substantially perpendicular to the first arm. The holder additionally includes a pivot point to be coupled to a pivot connector on a panel to pivotally move the L-shaped frame between a first position and a second position. The holder further includes a first blind-mate connector disposed on the L-shaped frame to be coupled to a second blind-mate connector at an engagement interface. The first blind-mate connector and the second blind-mate connector are coupled in response to the L-shaped frame moving to the second position in response to contact with the electronic rack.

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a plurality of support beams configured to support the solar array, a torque tube coupled to the plurality of support beams, a base configured to rotatably support the torque tube, and an articulation system configured to rotate the torque tube relative to the base. The articulation system includes a first helical tube coupled to the torque tube, a first helical tube support disposed on the base and configured to slidably support the first helical tube, and a gearbox in mechanical communication with the first helical tube. Actuation of the gearbox causes the first helical tube to translate within the first helical tube support and the first helical tube support is configured to rotate the first helical tube as the first helical tube is translated therein to cause a corresponding rotation of the solar array.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a multi-language search include a query receiver that receives a search query from a search user interface that includes a search term in a first language. A search results evaluator determines whether execution of the search query will produce a sufficient number of search results. A cross-language search manager, in response to determining that the processing of the search query will not produce the sufficient number of search results, obtains a first translated version of the search term, requests that a search be executed by a search engine based on at least the search term and the first translated version of the search term, receives a set of search results from the search engine based on the search; and returns the set of search results to the search user interface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for resource locator remarketing are presented. In one aspect, a method includes receiving visitation data from a publisher, the visitation data specifying a device identifier and a resource locator specifying a resource that was provided to a user device; identifying a content feed that includes regular expressions, each regular expression specifying matching character strings and a set of content items that are eligible to be provided to user devices corresponding to visitation data including a resource locator matching one of the regular expressions; identifying, a first matching regular expression that matches the resource locator specified by the visitation data; selecting a content item from the content items that correspond to the first matching regular expression; and providing data that causes presentation of the selected content item to the user device.