Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a safety system that can be used with a high-flux power beam, such as in wireless power transmission. The system includes a transmitter that generates and transmits a power beam and a receiver that receives the power beam. A plurality of sensors is configured to independently detect if an object is near, impeding, or about to impede (i.e., impinging) the power beam. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect the object at different distances between the transmitter and the receiver. A controller triggers the transmitter to stop generating the power beam when any one or more of the plurality of sensors detects the object or a combination of the plurality of sensors detects the object. The controller triggers the transmitter to re-generate and transmit the power beam when each of the plurality of sensors fails to detect the object.

Abstract: A smart battery balancer is provided that monitors the voltage output levels of two battery packs and switches current into a selected one of the batteries to maintain balanced voltage output levels. In one embodiment, first and second batteries are connected in series to generate a high voltage output. Current from the batteries is stored in an inductor that is connected to first and second switches. A switch control circuit is configured to generate drive signals to control the first and second switches. The drive signals close the first switch and open the second switch when an output voltage of the first battery is greater than an output voltage of the second battery. The drive signals open the first switch and close the second switch when the output voltage of the second battery is greater than the output voltage of the first battery.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a system with a sensor with electrodes including an active electrode and a receiving electrode that is in physical contact with skin of a patient forming an electrical circuit with control electronics of a controller that can measure an electrical parameter using an active electrode and a receiving electrode within a closed loop electrical muscle stimulation system. A sense electrical pulse can be applied to the tissue using the sensor, an electrical parameter measured from the tissue, and a stimulation pulse applied to the tissue based at least in part on the measured electrical parameter. The stimulation is adjustably controlled by the controller to maintain a constant power output to the tissue based on the electrical parameter. A good is coupled to a computer readable medium configured to store usage data, the usage data relating to the patient's use of the good.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle mass estimator circuit. The vehicle mass estimator circuit is configurable to estimate a mass of vehicle during real-time operation of the vehicle without employing a scale or dedicated mass sensing system. The vehicle mass estimator circuit generates the vehicle mass Mv from: (1) an estimated torque or sensed torque, (2) an estimated motor angular velocity or sensed motor angular velocity, and (3) sensed acceleration or without any sensed acceleration. In one embodiment, the vehicle mass estimator circuit senses motor current during vehicle operation and estimates a mass of the vehicle using the motor current without any dedicated acceleration sensor such as an accelerometer. A motor angular velocity is estimated from the motor current. In another embodiment, the vehicle mass estimator circuit senses motor current during vehicle operation and estimates a mass of the vehicle using the motor current and acceleration information provided by an accelerometer.

Abstract: An electrostatic machine includes a drive electrode and a stator electrode. The drive electrode and the stator electrode are separated by a gap and form a capacitor. The drive electrode is configured to move with respect to the stator electrode. The electrostatic machine further includes a housing configured to enclose the drive electrode and the stator electrode. The stator electrode is fixed to the housing. The electrostatic machine also includes a dielectric fluid that fills a void defined by the housing, the drive electrode, and the stator electrode. The dielectric fluid includes a ketone, malonate, or an oxalate.

Abstract: A method of facilitating a match between an employer with at least one job opening and job seekers is provided. The employer has a set of position preferences related to the job opening. The job seekers have suitability data, resumes, etc., that are provided to the employer. The suitability data includes normalized assessment data. The method includes the steps of: determining a position quotient based on the position preferences; deriving a performance quotient for each job seeker; comparing each the performance quotient to the position quotient; and ranking each the job seeker based on the comparison of the performance quotient to the position quotient.

Abstract: An electric motor coil winder is provided. A cutting length of a wire used for an electric motor coil is controlled according to the location of a slot formed at a stator inside an electric motor so that a wasted wire can be reduced and a manufacturing cost and energy thus can be reduced, a cutting cover is installed at a cutting part to prevent a cut wire from popping up and protect the inside of the cutting part, and the length of a wire required for a process is set to enhance production efficiency.

Abstract: A power beaming system includes a power beam transmitter arranged to transmit the power beam, and a power beam receiver arranged to receive the power beam from the power beam transmitter. A power beam transmission source is arranged to generate a laser light beam for transmission by the power beam transmitter from a first location toward a remote second location. A beam-shaping element shapes the laser light beam, at least one diffusion element uniformly distributes light of the shaped laser light beam, and a projection element illuminates a power beam receiving element of predetermined shape with the shaped laser light beam. At the power beam receiver, a diffusion surface diffuses a portion the power beam specularly reflected from the power beam receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the cleaning effectiveness of a well borehole during drilling. A control system may monitor various parameters, including the volume of drilling mud and any materials entering a borehole, including by a flow rate, and the volume of fluids and materials (such as drilling mud and rock) exiting a borehole, including by a flow rate, and determining if there is a difference, the value of any such difference, whether the value is within one or more target ranges, falls below a threshold therefor, or exceeds a threshold therefor. If the control system determines that the value of the difference in volumes indicates that corrective action is appropriate, then taking such corrective action by modifying one or more drilling parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for drilling are provided. Responsive to receipt of information, the system determines an estimated position of a drill bit in a borehole and whether the estimated position is within a defined margin of error on the planned path. If the estimated position is not within the defined margin of error, the system calculates a first plurality of convergence plans, each defining a path from the estimated position to the planned path or from a projected position of the drill bit. The system defines a second plurality of convergence plans defining a subset of the first plurality, each falling within a window of correction. The system selects a convergence plan from the second plurality that optimizes target parameters and produces control parameters associated with drilling the selected plan. The system drills at least a portion of the borehole based on the produced control parameters.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a secure intelligent networked system for identifying and correcting a defect in a health care service and method for using the same. The system receives data regarding patient care, generally obtained from commercial insurance claims, customer claims or Medicare claims. The system operates on a plurality of nodes configured based on a set of metrics associated with the appropriateness of health care measures. The system may generate a determination regarding the appropriateness of the measure. The system may further produce a second determination denoting a physician's overall conformity with appropriate standards of practice. Finally, the system may generate a knowledge narrative indicating an appropriate action.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor the precharging of high voltage circuits are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a switch that selectively enables or disables precharge current to a high voltage circuit based on a switch control signal. The apparatus also includes a comparison circuit that compares a scaled version of a circuit voltage to a reference voltage to generate the switch control signal. In one embodiment, the switch control signal is generated to enable the precharge current when the scaled version of the circuit voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

Abstract: A network access credential change request is received onto a network access credential updating system. The network access credential change request is a request to update access credentials of a network near a vehicle charge station. The new credential in the request is communicated to an electric vehicle. The network is updated with the network access credential. The vehicle is able to connect to the network with the updated credential after the network has been updated. In one embodiment, the network access credential updating system includes an application. A charge station operating entity communicates a network access credential change request for a particular network to the application. After sending the request, the charge station operating entity updates the network access credential for the network in accordance with a credential update agreement. The credential update agreement tends to afford adequate opportunity for vehicles to receive updated credentials before networks are updated.

Abstract: An eFuse for use in high voltage applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a solid-state switch having source and drain terminals connected to switch a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load. The apparatus also includes a sense circuit that senses a voltage between the switch source and drain terminals and turns off the switch when the voltage exceeds a selected voltage level.

Abstract: An example apparatus including a rotor stage of an electrostatic machine, the rotor stage including a rotor plate, at least one rotor via, a rotor power distribution board including at least one rotor power distribution bus, at least one rotor power coupling perforation, and a rotor electrical coupling circuit; a stator stage of the electrostatic machine, the stator stage including a stator plate, at least one stator via, a stator power distribution board including at least one stator power distribution bus, at least one stator power coupling perforation; and a stator electrical coupling circuit structured to electrically couple the at least one stator power distribution bus to at least a portion of the plurality of stator electrodes, wherein the stator electrical coupling circuit extends through the at least one stator via and the at least one stator power coupling perforation.

Abstract: A vapor-compression multi-evaporator cooling system comprises a cooling control system and two or more evaporators each coupled to an expansion valve. Each evaporator is selectively enabled or disabled during operation. When an evaporator is enabled, the evaporator transfers heat into a working fluid within the system. When an evaporator is disabled, the evaporator does not exchange any appreciable amount of heat within the system. The cooling control system includes a cooling controller, an adjustable compressor, a condenser, and a variable speed fan that provides selectable amounts of cooling to the condenser. During operation, the cooling controller adjusts the compressor operation and fan speed to maintain stable operation of the cooling system. To compensate for enabling or disabling of evaporators, the cooling controller adjusts compressor operation and fan speed to provide more or less compression and more or less condenser cooling to maintain stable and efficient operation of the cooling system.

Abstract: An electrostatic machine including a rotor plate comprising a plurality of rotor electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a shaft; a stator plate comprising a plurality of stator electrodes; an excitation circuit electrically coupled to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate at a first end, and electrically couplable to exchange power at a second end with a selected one of an electrical power source or an electrical load; wherein the excitation circuit is configured to: in a first motoring mode, provide excitation power to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate, wherein the shaft provides positive torque to the load; and in a second generating mode, wherein the shaft receives negative torque from the load, operably couple at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate to the electrical power source.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a control system may include a processor coupled to the database. The control system may include a memory accessible to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor for: during slide drilling, detecting an increase to a first differential pressure (?P) that is greater than a first threshold pressure. In at least one embodiment, the control system may responsive to detecting the first ?P, determining a time duration for which the first ?P exceeds the first threshold pressure. In at least one embodiment, the control system may responsive to the first ?P exceeding the first threshold pressure for less than a first threshold time, continuing the slide drilling without modifying a drilling parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle mass estimator circuit. The vehicle mass estimator circuit is configurable to estimate a mass of vehicle during real-time operation of the vehicle without employing a scale or dedicated mass sensing system. The vehicle mass estimator circuit generates the vehicle mass Mv from: (1) an estimated torque or sensed torque, (2) an estimated motor angular velocity or sensed motor angular velocity, and (3) sensed acceleration or without any sensed acceleration. In one embodiment, the vehicle mass estimator circuit senses motor current during vehicle operation and estimates a mass of the vehicle using the motor current without any dedicated acceleration sensor such as an accelerometer. A motor angular velocity is estimated from the motor current. In another embodiment, the vehicle mass estimator circuit senses motor current during vehicle operation and estimates a mass of the vehicle using the motor current and acceleration information provided by an accelerometer.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.