Abstract: The disclosed inventive concept provides an electrically conductive mechanical vibration isolator for providing an electrical path between parts of a vehicle in order to alleviate the need for ground straps. The conductive isolator disclosed herein includes an inner shell, an outer shell, an elastomer disposed therebetween, and a conductor interconnecting the inner and outer shells to create an electrical path therebetween. In one embodiment, the conductor is at least one conducting wire having opposite ends electrically bonded to the inner and outer shells. In another embodiment, the elastomer may comprise a plurality of conductive particulates distributed throughout the elastomer. In yet another embodiment the elastomer may include at least one channel formed therein and extending between the inner and outer shells for storing a conductive liquid therein. The conductive liquid is contained between the shells and provides an electrical path therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method provide automatic access to applications or data. A portable physical device, referred to herein as a Personal Digital Key or “PDK”, stores one or more profiles in memory, including a biometric profile acquired in a secure trusted process and uniquely associated with a user that is authorized to use and associated with the PDK. The PDK wirelessly transmits identification information including a unique PDK identification number, the biometric profile and a profile over a secure wireless channel to a reader. A computing device is coupled to the reader. An auto login server is coupled to the reader and the computing device and launches one or more applications associated with a user name identified by the received profile.

Abstract: Ventilation control systems and methods for a vehicle are presented. The system includes a touch screen that is configures to display an object and receive a selection of a part of the object. The system also includes an air vent that comprises at least one controllable fin and a motor that can control the configuration of that fin. A control circuitry of the system configures the fin, using the at least one motor, to direct air from the air vent to a location that corresponds to the selected part of the object.

Abstract: An interbody fusion device includes a base member, a top member, and an expansion mechanism for moving the top member relative to the base member. The expansion mechanism may include a connector drive rod assembly, a gear, a threaded rod, and a support means. The gear ring is coupled to the threaded rod and is rotatable. The expansion mechanism may also include at least one load head coupled to the threaded rod. An alternative interbody fusion device is also disclosed and includes a bottom member, a superior member, and an expansion mechanism for moving the superior member relative to the base member, wherein the expansion mechanism comprises at least one expansion assembly for moving an end of the superior member relative to the bottom member.

Abstract: A method of determining absolute quantity of a sample template is provided, comprising: i) providing a series of control templates, each having a different and known copy number; ii) amplifying each control template and the sample template by PCR and detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product in each PCR cycle during an exponential phase to thereby obtain a series of control signals and a sample signal; iii) making a standard curve relating a known copy number of each control template with an intensity of each corresponding control signal for the each PCR cycle; and iv) determining a copy number of the sample template by using the standard curve to translate an intensity of the sample signal to the copy number of the sample template.

Abstract: A method of selecting a compression ratio in an internal combustion engine having a mechanism configured to vary the compression ratio includes receiving, via an electronic controller, a requested output torque value. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a value of engine speed corresponding to the requested output torque value. The method additionally includes determining, via the controller, a compression ratio value corresponding to the requested output torque value and the determined value of the engine speed. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a position of the mechanism corresponding to the determined compression ratio value. Furthermore, the method includes commanding, via the controller, the determined position of the mechanism and thereby selecting the determined compression ratio value.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for tuning photonic device performance. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an initial photonic device configuration including multiple coupling structures and multiple photonic components. A first amount of light coupling between a first photonic component and a second photonic component of the multiple photonic components is received, which depends upon a subset of the coupling structures that are located between the first photonic component and the second photonic component. One or more coupling structures of the subset of coupling structures located between the first photonic component and the second photonic component are determined to be removed to cause the light coupling between the first photonic component and the second photonic component to change from the first amount of coupling to a target amount of coupling.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method and a hardware and software system for collecting data from retail point of sale. The hardware connects to a wide variety of barcode scanners and receipt printers. Collected data is transmitted to a cloud-based infrastructure backend system using a wireless internet connection built into the hardware. The collected data can be processed to extract item-level transaction information, and estimate the price and in-stock status of items in particular shops. A search engine can be provided using this data, which allows a customer to discover which nearby shop has an item of interest in stock. A targeted advertising system that complements this search service is also presented. The data can be used by retailers and manufacturers for business analysis and optimization.

Abstract: Various techniques for implementing computer dashboards as cloud-based services are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a dashboard file at a server via a computer network, the dashboard file identifying a dashboard having one or more graphical user interface elements individually configured to display and dynamically update data associated with a cloud-based service. The dashboard file further contains metadata indicating a cloud-based subscription. The method also includes associating the received dashboard file with the cloud-based subscription, identifying one or more entities allowed to access the dashboard based on the cloud-based subscription, and displaying, via the computer network, the dashboard identified by the dashboard file to the one or more entities upon verification of the cloud-based subscription.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for use with an over-the-road vehicle is disclosed. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a flash-boil doser mounted to an exhaust conduit and a catalyst coupled to the exhaust conduit. The flash-boil doser configured to inject heated and pressurized reducing agent into an exhaust passageway defined by the exhaust conduit for distribution throughout exhaust gases passed through the exhaust conduit. The catalyst configured to react the reducing agent with the nitrous oxide in the flow of exhaust gases to provide treated exhaust gases with a reduced nitrous oxide amount.

Abstract: The present application discloses a lamp, which comprises a housing, a radiator being provided with an accommodating space for accommodating a light source and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) board, an optical device having a bottom surface facing towards the radiator and a top surface facing towards external space, and a switch being connected to the PCB board, wherein the optical device comprises an actuator which is cooperated with the switch, wherein the optical device is rotatably arranged relative to the radiator so that the switch is switched by the actuator. By means of such an arrangement, a user may manually rotate the optical device of the lamp to drive the switch located inside the lamp to be switched, so that the lamp is conveniently switched between different color temperatures, for example between cold light and warm light.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.