Abstract: A measurement apparatus for measuring a laser focus spot size, which includes a two-dimensional image detector and an imaging system which forms a magnified image of a focus spot located an object plane onto the image detector. The imaging system includes at least an objective lens. A sealed liquid container is secured over a part of the objective lens such as the optical surface of the objective lens is immersed in the liquid (e.g. water) within the container. The liquid container has a window through which the laser beam enters. An image processing method is also disclosed which processes the image obtained by the image detector to obtain the focus spot size while implementing an algorithm that corrects for the effect of ambient vibration.

Abstract: A system for correcting a steering offset generated by an active steering system of a vehicle includes a vehicle comprising a pair of steered road wheels. The system also includes a controller configured to direct a change to an angle of the steered road wheels when a determined steering state of the vehicle is a steering slowly state.

Abstract: A lighting assembly is disclosed which includes a leadframe and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) element arranged on the leadframe. At least a portion of the leadframe is covered with a polyurethane coating arranged to electrically insulate the portion of the leadframe, and at least a portion of the polyurethane covered portion of the leadframe is further covered with a thermally conductive material. A method for manufacturing the lighting assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described. In one illustrative embodiment, an active cover plate includes a multi-gang face plate configured to be installed over a multi-gang light switch installation, the multi-gang faceplate including at least two apertures sized to accept a manually manipulatable element of switches in the multi-gang light switch installation. Prongs extend rearward from the multi-gang faceplate around at least one of the apertures.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for implementing hardware backed symmetric operations for password based authentication. In operation, a system receives a request to access software utilizing password-based authentication. Further, the system receives a password for the password-based authentication. The system computes a hash utilizing the password and a hardware-based authenticator associated with hardware of the system utilizing hardware backed symmetric encryption. Moreover, the system verifies that the hash computed utilizing the password and the hardware-based authenticator is correct for accessing the software.

Abstract: A high throughput fractionated satellite (HTFS) system and method where the functional capabilities of a conventional monolithic spacecraft are distributed across many small or very small satellites and a central command and relay satellite, the satellites are separated and flight in carefully design formations that allows the creation of very large aperture or apertures in space drastically reducing cost and weight and enabling high throughput capabilities by spatially reuse spectrum.

Abstract: A method for facilitating communication between application components is provided. The method comprises invoking, by a data consumer, a data contract by requesting data, wherein the data contract specifies communication parameters between application components. The data contract identifies and invokes a provider component in response to the invocation by the data consumer. The provider translates input data from the data consumer to construct a producer request and sends the producer request to a data producer. The data producer sends output data to the provider in response to the producer request. The provider translates and sends the output data to the data contract, and the data contract send the translated output data to the data consumer.

Abstract: A method may include aligning a portion of each of a plurality of optical ribbons in a particular orientation or sequence using a set of alignment apparatus. The method may include stripping the portion of each of the plurality of optical ribbons to expose a cladding of each fiber of the plurality of optical ribbons using a set of stripping apparatus. The method may include hermetically sealing a tube around the portion of each of the plurality of optical ribbons using a set of sealing apparatus. The method may produce a hermetic optical fiber feedthrough.

Abstract: A system includes a satellite communications gateway including a first receiver. The first receiver is programmed to receive a first signal including a time-division multiplexed (TDM) return and a time-division multiple access (TDMA) return overlapped in an allocated frequency range. The receiver is further programmed to recover the time-division multiplexed return from the first signal; and output the time-division multiplexed return.

Abstract: A service deployment manager may receive a service request that includes data identifying a service to be deployed in a cloud computing environment, data identifying an execution environment in which the service is to be deployed, data identifying a framework on which the service is to be deployed, and data identifying a version strategy to be applied to the service. The service deployment manager may receive data identifying a user account associated with the service request, and may determine that the user account has permission to deploy the requested service. The service deployment manager may identify a service template, based on the service, that specifies a virtual hardware configuration, and may provide, to a service deployment platform, instructions to deploy the service using the virtual hardware configuration. The instructions may include the data identifying the execution environment, the data identifying the framework, and the data identifying the version strategy.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, a method may include supplying air to an exhaust system at a location downstream of an emissions control device via the first exhaust manifold, the air not having participated in combustion in the engine, the first exhaust manifold in fluidic communication with a first exhaust valve of a cylinder and an intake manifold, the cylinder including a second exhaust valve in fluidic communication with the second exhaust manifold. The method may further include adjusting an amount of fuel injected to the engine in response to output of a first oxygen sensor, the first oxygen sensor positioned in the exhaust system upstream of the emissions control device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low band dipole that has four dipole arms in a cross configuration, and a simplified cloaking structure to substantially prevent interference with radiated RF energy from nearby high band dipoles. Further disclosed is a feed network and dipole stem balun configuration that power divides and combines two distinct RF signals, without the use of a hybrid coupler, so that the four dipole arms collectively radiate the two RF signals respectively at a +45 degree and ?45 degree polarization orientation relative to the orientation of the dipole arms.

Abstract: Conversational virtual assistance for delivering relevant query solutions is provided. A virtual assistant system comprises various components associated with developing a knowledge database that can be searched for finding documents that fulfill the user's intent. The virtual assistant system further comprises components for receiving a query from a user, extracting entities for understanding the user's intent, and for searching a knowledge database for documents responsive to the query. When additional information is needed for determining more relevant results, a conversation strategy is determined, and a question is formulated for generating a conversation with the user for clarifying the user's intent, confirming a solution, or obtaining additional information. The user is enabled to provide a follow-up response that is related to a previously identified entity. The entity is edited in the query, and responses are refined responsive to the edited query.

Abstract: A method comprising: during a first time period, obtaining one or more first content ratings of a particular content item from one or more first users, each first content rating defining a first user measure of a belief state of the particular content item; and generating a first content score for the particular content item, the first content score defining a crowd-sourced measure of the belief state of the particular content item; during a second time period, obtaining one or more second content ratings from one or more second users for the particular content item, each second content rating defining a second user measure of the belief state of the particular content item; and generating a second content score for the particular content item, the second content score defining a second crowd-sourced measure of the belief state of the particular content item; comparing the second crowd-sourced measure of the belief state of the particular content item against each of the one or more first content ratings of t

Abstract: Novel materials and devices can remove small defects from long rolls of flexible electronics material while they are in continuous motion. The cleaning materials are designed to remove small particles without transferring defects or damaging the flexible electronics. The device generally consists of variable speed, motor-driven cylinders mounted on moveable brackets. The cylinders are capable of matching the speed of the cleaning material such that the cleaning material is always in contact with the web roll to be cleaned. The brackets are capable of rotating so the same material can be used more than once. Another material is used to remove debris from the cleaning material. A similar device consisting of motor-driven cylinders and moveable is used to apply the debris removal film to the cleaning film, allowing the cleaning film to be used multiple times.

Abstract: Data overwriting techniques involve: comparing, based on a request for overwriting target data in a storage area to cover original data, a first compression ratio with a second compression ratio; in accordance with a determination that the first compression ratio is larger, compressing the target data into fragments at the first compression ratio; storing the fragments in segments in the storage area, the segments being previously used for storing corresponding fragments of the original data; and storing at least one padding data fragment in at least one free segment interleaved with the segments and/or free sectors in the segments. Accordingly, the overwritten data can be stored in the storage area in a continuous manner, while the write alignment requirement of the storage device can be satisfied, thereby saving the additional read overheads incurred by the write request and enhancing the write performance of the storage device.