Abstract: An improved pivot pin for a firearm may provide a head, shank, and/or openings. The improved pivot pin may also provide a modified central channel, an installation point, and/or installation channel to allow for tool-free or tool-less installation. Further, the improved pivot pin may provide a removal channel to allow the pivot pin to easily be removed from the lower receiver without tools. An improved takedown pin for a firearm may provide a head, shank, and/or openings. The improved takedown pin may also provide a modified center channel and/or removal channel as well. A removal tool to aid removal of a pivot pin or takedown pin from a firearm may be generally shaped to conform or fit within the channel of the pivot or takedown pin. The width and height of the removal tool may be slightly smaller than the width and height of the channel of the pivot pin or takedown pin. The distal end of the removal tool may taper from a top surface to the bottom surface to form a sharp point or tip.

Abstract: To manufacture a device by picking and placing semiconductor devices from a carrier substrate to a target substrate using touch down sensors, a pick-up head including touch down sensors and the semiconductor devices on the carrier substrate are moved relative to each other to contact the carrier substrate with the touch down sensors. Signals from each touch down sensor indicating a degree of deformation of each touch down sensor caused by the contact with the carrier substrate are used to determine an orientation of the pick-up head by processing the signals, and adjust the orientation of the pick-up head based on the determined orientation to attach the semiconductor devices onto the pick-up head. In some embodiments, the touch down sensors are piezoelectric benders.

Abstract: A system comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to receive a content request from a client device of a user; determine level of network availability on the client device and data plan availability associated with the user; determine one or more content filtering factors to filter the content for display to the user; filter the content based on the one or more filtering factors, the level of network availability, and the data plan availability; and provide filtered content for display on the client device of the user.

Abstract: An onboard electronic system for logging and reporting driver activity and operation data of a vehicle. The system incorporates an onboard recorder operatively connected to a data bus of the vehicle and configured to continuously electronically monitor and obtain vehicle operation data including vehicle fuel consumption data and vehicle mileage data. A transmitter is adapted for transmitting the vehicle operation data from the onboard recorder to a remote terminal outside of the vehicle. Data processing software is operable for generating a fuel data report using the vehicle operation data, and determining based on the fuel data report whether a driver satisfies a vehicle operation requirement established by an authority.

Abstract: One disclosed example provides, enacted on a computing system, a method of resolving a device capability model (DCM) for a network connected device, the method comprising receiving, from the network connected device, an identifier of the DCM, based on the identifier received, determining whether the DCM is stored on the computing system, when the DCM is stored on the computing system, then retrieving the DCM from the computing system, when the DCM is not stored on the computing system, then retrieving the DCM from one or more of the network connected device and a DCM repository and storing the DCM on the computing system, receiving, from a software solution, an application programming interface (API) call to retrieve the DCM from the computing system, and in response to receiving the API call, returning the DCM to the software solution.

Abstract: A system includes a ring magnet having magnetic segments and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein adjacent segments have different magnetic polarities, The system can further include a substrate positioned so that a top surface of the substrate is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and a center plane passing through the ring magnet and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ring magnet intersects the top surface at an intersection line. The system can further include four magnetic field sensing elements supported by the substrate and electrically coupled to form a first bridge circuit, wherein two of the four magnetic field sensing elements are positioned on one side of the intersection line and the other two of the four magnetic field sensing elements are positioned on the other side of the intersection line.

Abstract: A portable conveyance footrest has a support portion having a substantially planar base surface to receive a foot. A tow handle portion is connected to an end of the support portion and forms a substantially planar tow handle that is within a same plane as the substantially planar base surface. The tow handle is spaced apart from the end of the support portion to define a void between the tow handle and the second end of the support portion. The tow handle is disposed within the same plane as the substantially planar base surface so that a user's fingers, when gripping the tow handle, extend into the void between the tow handle and the end of the support portion and through the plane of the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: A collar compression system is configured to press a shirt collar and restore the collar to its store-bought form. The open triangle press body is placed on the inside of the shirt collar. The open triangle press body can be made of plastic to hold the shape of the collar. The three separate press members are also made of plastic. One press member is located on the left, right and rear side of the open triangle body. In this embodiment, the living hinge may be made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both. The living hinges connect the press members to the open triangle press body. In one operation, the open triangle press body can be placed on the inside of the collar and the three press members may be placed over the top of the collar to compress the collar, which shapes the collar to its pressed form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aging spirits using a novel wooden medallion, where the method requires selecting a type of wood, washing the wood, roasting the wood, and contacting the wood with an ethyl or ethanol alcohol based liquid product.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve cartridge arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve cartridge includes a passage, a valve seat arranged in the passage, a flapper valve pivotally mounted relative to the valve seat in the passage, and a piston member configured to shift the flapper valve between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the valve seat, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the valve seat and maintained in an open configuration.

Abstract: A granular material effect system includes a plurality of granular particles disposed in a container, a nozzle configured to activate to direct a fluid into the container, an actuator coupled to a prop and disposed in the container within the plurality of granular particles, and a controller communicatively coupled to the nozzle and the actuator. The controller is configured to instruct the nozzle to activate to direct the fluid into the container and to instruct the actuator to move the prop relative to the container while the nozzle is activated.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and processor-readable storage media for policy-based automated generation of software-defined storage deployments are provided herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing online content include evaluating a custom selection rule specified by a content provider. The custom selection rule may be used to control whether content from the provider is eligible for selection by a content selection service. The content selection rule may include one or more logical operators, a selected interest category and/or a selected list of one or more client identifiers.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a base frame supporting a lift mechanism. A seatback is operably coupled to a seat portion. The seatback and the seat portion are vertically adjustable as powered by the lift mechanism. The seat portion is pivotally coupled to the seatback by a support bracket for rotational movement between first and second positions. A seat frame of the seat portion is vertically juxtaposed over the lift mechanism when the seat portion is in the second position.

Abstract: This document relates to techniques for addressing disruptions that prevent applications from receiving user input, prevent users from providing input to an application, and/or prevents or impacts users from receiving application output. One example method involves detecting a disruption to an interactive application during interaction by a user with the interactive application, generating automated user inputs, and providing the automated user inputs to the interactive application during the disruption to the interactive application.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a technique to estimate and monitor a self-discharge rate for use as a measure of battery health are described herein. In some embodiments, the technique includes a system including a processor and a memory coupled with the processor. The memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions that when executed cause the processor to receive a plurality of snapshots obtained by monitoring a battery system in a quiescent state at a plurality of times. Each snapshot includes a plurality of cell state values at one of the plurality of times. The memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions that when executed cause the processor to estimate a self-discharge indicator using at least one snapshot in the plurality of snapshots, compare the self-discharge indicator to a threshold, and recommend a remedy for the battery system in response to the self-discharge indicator exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly has a central hub configured to connect to a steering column, at least one retractable hand grip attached to the central hub, one or more control cables disposed internal of each retractable hand grip, and a drive mechanism connected to the control cables. The drive mechanism is located either at or in the central hub or remotely relative to the steering wheel assembly. The drive mechanism when activated can selectively move one or more of the control cables to move the retractable grips to a retracted position or a non-retracted position. Optionally, the hand grips can be connected directly to the central hub and/or to one or more spokes extending form the central hub. Each of the retractable hand grips has at least one and up to four control cables.

Abstract: A content delivery network (CDN) includes a plurality of CDN components including at least one CDN rendezvous mechanism and at least one control core. The CDN components are controlled by control core data from the at least one control core. Some CDN components obtain CDN resources including control core data from at least some other CDN components. The CDN components use the CDN rendezvous mechanism to select one or more CDN components from which to obtain CDN resources.