Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly includes an outer race having a first bore defined by an inner surface of the outer race. A ball cage has an outer surface and a second bore defined by an inner surface of the ball cage. The ball cage is axially received in the first bore of the outer race. At least one of the inner surface of the outer race or the inner surface the ball cage includes a first portion having a cylindrical contour and a second portion having a spherical contour.

Abstract: A buttstock for a rifle has one or two longitudinal slots into which spare ammunition magazines may be inserted, stored, carried, and available for optional use in either a rifle or a pistol configured to receive the ammunition magazine. When fully inserted into a longitudinal slot, the magazine is fully enclosed within the buttstock except for the bottom surface of the magazine, which is approximately flush with the rear surface of the buttstock. One model of the buttstock may hold a single magazine, while another may hold two magazines, where the magazine slots are configured in an over-under arrangement.

Abstract: A system for purchasing one or more products is provided. The system includes a local device for retrieving identification information and a remote server connected with the local device, an order management system connected with the remote server, and an order fulfillment system connected with the order management system to fulfill the order by obtaining and delivering the product to the user. Upon receiving the identification information at the local device, the local device automatically forwards the identification information along with a unique identifier to a remote server. The remote server generates and delivers the website containing information about the product to the local device. The local device is in communication with an order creation application. The product is automatically placed in a virtual shopping cart of the order creation application for purchase by the user.

Abstract: For transmitting an uplink channel, one apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver that that communicates with a base unit in a mobile communication network. The processor receives first scheduling information to transmit a first uplink channel on a first uplink resource in a slot and receives second scheduling information to transmit a second uplink channel on a second uplink resource in the slot. Here, the first uplink resource and the second uplink resource at least partially overlap in the time domain, wherein the first scheduling information is received later than the second scheduling information and the second uplink resource is larger than the first uplink resource in the time domain. The processor transmits the first uplink channel on the first uplink resource including the overlap time and transmits the second uplink channel on a part of the second uplink resource excluding at least the overlap time.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite reinforcing fibers infused or compounded with pulp fibers and/or nano-fibers. The composite reinforcing fibers are composed of polymer, e.g., polymer resin. The pulp fibers and/or nano-fibers impart improved tensile strength to the composite reinforcing fibers, as well as a resulting product formed by the fibers. The composite reinforcing fibers may be used in a variety of cementitious applications, wherein traditional reinforcing fibers are typically used.

Abstract: A jack stand apparatus has a frame having a first portion and an outwardly extending second portion, a barrel affixed to the outwardly extending portion so as to have a generally vertical longitudinal axis, a jack screw threadedly received by the barrel, and a plurality of caster wheels removably affixed to the frame. The barrel has an outer end extending outwardly for a first distance from the first portion of the frame. The plurality of caster wheels support the frame for a second distance from a level of the bottom of the caster wheels. The first distance is no more than the second distance. A support head is affixed to an end of the jack screw opposite the barrel. The frame is invertible relative to the caster wheels such that in one position the barrel extends upwardly from the frame and a second position in which the barrel extends downwardly from the frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. A gear train in an electric drive axle system includes, in one example, an input shaft configured to rotationally couple to an electric motor-generator and including a first gear and an intermediate shaft including a second gear rotationally coupled to the first gear and a third gear and a fourth gear each configured to rotationally couple to a separate gear on an output shaft. In this example, the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear have different sizes, the third gear includes an axial extension having at outer surface, and an interior surface of the second gear circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the axial extension.

Abstract: A mold configuration for forming a pocket in a film comprising: a film support surface; a perimeter edge at said film support surface; wall surfaces inward of the perimeter edge defining a mold cavity; the wall surfaces including transition wall surfaces extending to a bottom wall surface; and a plateau surface inward of the perimeter edge. In one form, the perimeter edge includes sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions defining at least one sharp corner profile. A method of forming a pouch, includes using the disclosed mold configuration.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for using selectable elements to invoke an automated assistant at a computing device. While operating the computing device, a user may not be aware that the automated assistant can be invoked according to certain invocation phrases. In order to inform the user of the functionality of the automated assistant, the user can be presented with selectable elements that can initialize the automated assistant when selected. Furthermore, a selectable element can provide an invocation phrase in textual form so that the user is aware of their ability to invoke the automated assistant by speaking the invocation phrase. The selectable element can be presented at different devices associated with the user, and the automated assistant can be initialized at a device that is separate from the device where the selectable element is presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a coefficient of friction of an article is provided. The apparatus includes a base, a ramp, and an actuator. The ramp includes a first rail and a second rail that are spaced apart by a first distance. The first and second rails cooperate to define a first travel path for the article. The actuator is coupled with the base and is operably coupled with the ramp to facilitate selective pivoting of the ramp between a first angular position and a second angular position.

Abstract: A photo product design customization system for customizing a photo product design with minimal and intuitive user inputs includes a product design module that displays a photo product design in a main design panel, a user input detection unit that can detect a first directional movement from a first dynamic object in a product type selection panel to the main design panel, or a second directional movement from a second dynamic object in a product style selection panel to the main design panel, or a third directional movement from a third dynamic object in a product style selection panel to the main design panel, and an intelligent product design creation engine that can automatically change the photo product design in the main design panel in response to detection of the first, the second, or the third directional movement.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing an availability status associated with a facility. One system includes an illumination indicator, a thermal grid array sensor, and an electronic controller. The thermal grid array sensor is configured to sense an outside region, an entryway region, and an inside region associated with a facility subsystem. The electronic controller is configured to determine the current availability status as unavailable responsive to the thermal grid array sensor detecting a heat signature in the outside region, subsequently in the entryway region, and subsequently in the inside region. The electronic controller is also configured to determine the current availability status as available responsive to the thermal grid array sensor detecting the heat signature in the inside region, subsequently in the entryway region, and subsequently in the outside region.

Abstract: A vehicle system is configured to control a trailer alignment routine. The system comprises a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer. The controller is further configured to control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position. In response to the aligned position, the controller activates a service brake holding the vehicle and while maintaining the service brake activation, the controller activates a parking brake.

Abstract: A system and method arranged to enable a user to access recovery-related resources and/or other resources of interest quickly and privately to the user. The system includes a downloadable computer program configured to operate on a mobile communication device and configured to access the internet. The system also includes a database of information accessible through the mobile communication device, wherein the information of the database includes recovery and/or other resource information in the form of website links, telephone number links or both. The system also includes a resource access function configured to enable the user to access a resource of the database either through a direct link to a website of the resource, a direct link to call a telephone number of the resource or both without requiring the user to conduct an internet search to find and access the resource.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a solar home system that may be used for the following purposes in the household: lighting, mobile phone and other electronic device charging through Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, receiving television signal through digital TV signal, receiving internet information through the wireless network signal and powering electronics through an inverter. The present invention is very beneficial for households who do not have access to electricity from the electricity grid, households that have unreliable access to electricity, or households that choose not to utilize electricity directly from the grid.

Abstract: A computer-controlled system determines attributes of a frexel, an area of human skin, and applies a modifying agent (RMA) at the pixel level, typically to make the skin appear more youthful and so more attractive. The system scans the frexel, identifies unattractive attributes, and applies the RMA, typically with an inkjet printer. The identified attributes relate to reflectance and may refer to features such as irregular-looking light and dark spots, age-spots, scars, and bruises. Identified attributes may also relate to the surface topology of the skin, for more precisely enhancing surface irregularities such as bumps and wrinkles. Feature mapping may be used, for example to make cheeks appear pinker and cheekbones more prominent. The RMA can be applied in agreement with identified patterns, such as adding red to a red frexel, or in opposition, such as adding green or blue to a red frexel, according to idealized models of attractiveness.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for generating reversion free attenuated and/or replication incompetent vaccine vectors and their use in vaccine compositions and vaccination. In particular, the use of a codon shuffled helper gene is used to produce compositions comprising replication incompetent virus.

Abstract: Systems and methods that restore a failed reconfiguration of nodes in a distributed environment. By analyzing reports from read/write quorums of nodes associated with a configuration, automatic recovery for data partitions can be facilitated. Moreover, a configuration manager component tracks current configurations for replication units and determines whether a reconfiguration is required (e.g., due to node failures, node recovery, replica additions/deletions, replica moves, or replica role changes, and the like.) Reconfigurations of data activated as being replicated from an old configuration to being replicated on a new configuration may be performed in a transactionally consistent manner based on dynamic quorums associated with the new configuration and the old configuration.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for optimizing record placement in defragmenting a graph database. Issues with fragmented data within a graph database are addressed on the record level by placing data that is frequently accessed together contiguously within memory. For example, a dynamic rule set may be developed based on dynamically analyzing access patterns of the graph database, policies, system characteristics and/or other heuristics. Based on statistics regarding normal query patterns, the systems and methods may identify an optimal position for certain types of edges that are often traversed with respect to particular types of nodes.

Abstract: An example method includes determining, by a controller of an image capture system, a plurality of sets of exposure parameter values for one or more exposure parameters. The plurality of sets of exposure parameter values are determined at an exposure determination rate. The method further includes capturing, by an image capture device of the image capture system, a plurality of images. Each image of the plurality of images is captured according to a set of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values. The method also includes sending, by the controller of the image capture system to an image processing unit, a subset of the plurality of images. Each subset of images is sent at a sampling rate, and the sampling rate is less than the exposure determination rate.