Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify a turning center defined by a turning radius of the vehicle and a heading angle of the vehicle, identify a boundary circle having a center defined by the turning center and a radius extending to a location of a detected object, identify coordinates for each of a plurality of vertices of an external contour of the vehicle, the external contour defining a plurality of line segments, each line segment connecting two of the vertices, upon identifying at least one line segment that intersects the boundary circle, identify at least one of an object distance or an intersection time between the object and the vehicle, and actuate at least one of a steering or a brake to avoid the object when the object distance is below a distance threshold or the intersection time is below a time threshold.

Abstract: The disclosed bandgap circuit is configured to provide a temperature stable reference current and/or voltage that is also adjustable. The stability can be facilitated by an improved matching of current mirrors provided by a source degeneration topology. The source degeneration can reduce random mismatches without requiring increased size or complexity of the current mirrors and can facilitate operation of the current mirrors in a weak inversion condition, in which random mismatches may be most severe. Further, the source degeneration may be adjusted to adjust a level and/or a temperature coefficient of the generated reference current and/or voltage.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump system is disclosed herein. The implantable blood pump system includes an implantable blood pump, a controller coupled to the blood pump, a connector receptacle, and a connector insert. The connector receptacle can include a plurality of contacts, and a following surface. The connector insert can be received within the connector receptacle to couple a plurality of insert contacts with the plurality of contacts of the connector receptacle. The connector insert can include walls defining a follower receptacle that can receive a portion of the following surface when the connector insert is in a desired alignment with respect to the connector receptacle, and a cam surface that can engage with the following surface to bias the connector insert to the desired alignment with respect to the connector receptacle when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to leg support accessories for medical scooters, and more specifically, to a leg support accessory and method of use that elevates a compromised leg of a patient to reduce swelling and promote healing during recovery. One aspect of the leg support accessory includes a vertical member that is connected to an existing frame of a medical scooter. An elongated member may extend forward from the vertical member and include a U-shaped bracket which receives and secures a foot support. The foot support includes a closed lower end for receiving a foot and curves upwardly to contour to a heel and calf of the patient. The angle of the foot support may be adjusted for comfort. The leg support accessory is capable of being adjusted to be used for either the patient's right or left leg, depending on need.

Abstract: A method to purify a polymer is disclosed. The method is part of a manufacturing process wherein a virgin polymer is produced from a polymerization process employing at least a monomer or a comonomer as a feedstock. The monomer or the comonomer is selected from the group consisting of organic polar monomers, inorganic monomers, vinyl aromatic monomers, conjugated dienes, and mixtures thereof. In the method, the polymer in solid, liquid or molten state is brought into contact with a fluid solvent or an extraction fluid in a supercritical state or near supercritical state. The contact is at controlled temperature and pressure, allowing the fluid solvent to diffuse into the polymer and extract the impurities intended to remove. The method can be used to remove at least 10%, or at least 20%, or at least 50% of the target impurity from the polymer.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to powering a constant voltage DC load using a rectified output of a lighting ballast. In an illustrative example, the ballast may be configured to operate as a constant-current source. The DC load may, for example, comprise an array of LED strings connected in parallel. The number of LED strings may, for example, be selected to match a power output of the ballast. The number of LEDs in each string may, for example, be selected to match a rectified voltage output range of the ballast. A normally-open thermostat may, for example, be connected in parallel between the ballast and a rectifier and be configured to short-circuit the ballast if the circuit overheats. Various embodiments may advantageously utilize existing power processing functions of an electronic ballast to reduce complexity of a driver circuit for a constant voltage DC source.

Abstract: Generating and providing a content feed to a user that surfaces information items that are determined to be interesting or relevant to the user including content that is determined to be “distant” to the user is provided. Explicit user actions are used to discover peers who are not colleagues of the user (e.g., peers with whom the user does not share a close organizational relationship, peers with whom the user does not regularly communicate, etc.), but who the user indicates an interest in via his/her actions. These peers are categorized as elevated peers of the user, and information items associated with and trending around the elevated peers are surfaced to the user in a content feed.

Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.

Abstract: A detected displacement of a marker on a vehicle is determined based on image data captured while the vehicle traverses a displacement object of a ground surface. Then a health status of a suspension component of the vehicle is determined to be unhealthy based on comparing the detected displacement of the marker to a target displacement of the marker. The target displacement specifies displacement of the marker that indicates the suspension component is healthy. The vehicle is operated based on the suspension component being unhealthy.

Abstract: There are no wearable communication and guidance systems, methods, and devices that facilitate integration and communication between devices for humans. This invention provides a wearable and non-wearable with communication and guidance integration system, method, and devices for humans. The present disclosure relates to a communication and guidance system wherein multiple devices are integrated and linked for faster, efficient, enhanced security, and unique systems, apparatus, and methods thereof. The wearable can be self-illumination wearables.

Abstract: A nanofiber nonwoven product is disclosed which comprises a polyamide with a relative viscosity from 2 to 330, spun into nanofibers with an average diameter of less than 1000 nanometers (1 micron). In general, the inventive products are prepared by: (a) providing a polyamide composition, wherein the polyamide has a relative viscosity from 2 to 330; (b) melt spinning the polyamide composition into a plurality of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1 micron, followed by (c) forming the nanofibers into the product.

Abstract: A drill string rotation angle sensor diagnostic system includes a first rotation angle sensor assembly, a second rotation angle sensor assembly, an operator interface; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a first signal from the first rotation angle sensor assembly, receive a second signal from the second rotation angle sensor assembly, determine if a valid state exists based on the first signal and the second signal, and indicate a fault on the operator interface if a valid state does not exist.

Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.

Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbon-based polymers and hydrocarbon-based polymeric structures that are capable of removing carbon dioxide from an ambient environment to produce breathable oxygen. The methods produce enclosed, solar-exposed polymeric structures capable of expanding in area through the reuse of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-based polymers. As such, the method produces self-sustaining polymeric/hydrocarbon-based structures capable of in-situ resource harvesting and reuse to create a sustainable, habitable area. The methods can be used to create a habitable environment in otherwise harsh conditions, such as those associated with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and low pressure, without the need to use external, non-renewable resources, and instead using renewable, in-situ resources to improve the viability of habitation within the environment of the manufactured three-dimensional structures.

Abstract: A triggered sink circuit for a linear voltage regulator, such as low-dropout voltage regulator (LDO), is disclosed. The triggered sink circuit is activated only when needed to sink current from an output in response to a transient load change. The triggered sink circuit includes a large sink transistor that when activated drains current from the output of the LDO to quickly restore an output voltage back towards a regulated value, thereby improving a load transient response to the load change. The improved load transient response prevents the output transistor of the LDO from being completely deactivated to restore regulation. Accordingly, the LDO's response to a subsequent load transient can be improved.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring photogrammetric data of a target object and generating a three-dimensional model of the target object is provided. The present disclosure provides a method and system for acquiring photogrammetric data of the target object while moving a camera along paths for optimal data acquisition. The present disclosure further provides a method and system for the efficient processing of the acquired photogrammetric data into a three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A vapor-generating system includes a cartridge, a vapor-generating device and a piercing element. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing configured to hold a solid vapor-forming substrate within the cartridge housing interior, a liquid storage housing configured to hold a liquid vapor-forming substrate within the liquid storage housing interior, and a frangible seal on the liquid storage housing. The vapor-generating device includes a device housing at least partially defining a cavity, an electric heater, and a power supply. The piercing element is configured to pierce the frangible seal of the cartridge to expose the liquid storage housing interior to be in fluid communication with the electric heater based on the vapor-generating device coupling with the cartridge such that the device housing at least partially receives the cartridge into the cavity. The electric heater is located externally from the piercing element.

Abstract: A process for commencing a continuous reaction in a reactor system includes introducing a catalyst to a catalyst processing portion of the reactor system, the catalyst initially having a first temperature of 500 C or less, and contacting the catalyst at the first temperature with a commencement fuel gas stream, which includes at least 80 mol % commencement fuel gas, in the catalyst processing portion. Contacting of the catalyst with the commencement fuel gas stream causes combustion of the commencement fuel gas. The process includes maintaining the contacting of the catalyst with the commencement fuel gas stream until the temperature of the catalyst increases from the first temperature to a second temperature at which combustion of a regenerator fuel source maintains an operating temperature range in the catalyst processing portion.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a method of neural network optimized matrix-matrix multiplication (NNMM) is performed by at least one processor and includes determining a first matrix of input coefficients, and determining a second matrix of weight coefficients of a neural network that is trained so that the second matrix has a predetermined uniform pattern, the predetermined uniform pattern having at least two of the weight coefficients that have a same value. The method further includes performing multiplication of the determined first matrix and the determined second matrix to determine output coefficients.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a backup of configuration information files at a system controller and storing this backup at a server via the use of a network device.