Abstract: A portable readily assembled and dismantled bunk bed has flexible bed support members with integral flexible head and foot and vertically disposed members that disconnectably engaged and hold the flexible bed support to a horizontal frame member and provide end members that prevent a child from sliding through the frame members.

Abstract: A width detecting system includes a sensor-LED array positioned across a path of a media and/or ribbon within a printing apparatus. The LEDs are adapted to produce light directed toward the media and/or ribbon path. The optical sensors are configured to detect the LED light, produce analog signals proportionate to the received amount of light, and transmit the signals to a signal receiving assembly for processing. Additionally or alternatively, a width detecting system can have an array of LEDs facing an array of sensors in such a way that the media and/or ribbon path is located between the arrays. A method for width detection includes analyzing sensor data to determine one or more transition point between media and no-media sections, and calculating media width. The method can include using sensor data collected for a reflective and/or transmissive sensor arrays, and can be used for media and/or ribbon width detection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beverage dispensing machine and a gas infused beverage dispensing system which facilitates combination of gas with in a configuration which provides a smaller footprint and provides gas infusion of a beverage on demand. The system may be configured to produce only gas infused beverage or to allow the user to select gas infused beverage or chilled beverage, and, alternatively, ambient, unchilled beverage. A gas infuser of the system introduces gas to a chilled beverage stream using an injector with slots. This inline, on-demand gas infusion system provides benefits over infusion tank systems that gas infuse a relatively large volume of beverage in bulk.

Abstract: A method for encoding a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) inlay is described. The method includes causing, by a processor, a media to travel along a media path in an RFID printer. The media includes a plurality of labels. Each label of the plurality of labels comprises an RFID inlay. The method also includes determining a real-time position of a first label while the media travels along the media path based on an input signal received from a media sensor. The first label includes a first corresponding RFID inlay. Further, the method includes causing an RFID control system to initiate encoding of the first corresponding RFID inlay, and to rotate and continue encoding of the first corresponding RFID inlay until the first corresponding RFID inlay is successfully encoded. The RFID coupler is rotated based on the real-time position of the first label.

Abstract: A method is provided for Optical Character Recognition (OCR). A plurality of OCR decoding results each having a plurality of positions is obtained from capturing and decoding a plurality of images of the same one or more OCR characters. A recognized character in each OCR decoding result is compared with the recognized character that occupies an identical position in each of the other OCR decoding results. A number of occurrences that each particular recognized character occupies the identical position in the plurality of OCR decoding results is calculated. An individual confidence score is assigned to each particular recognized character based on the number of occurrences, with a highest individual confidence score assigned to a particular recognized character having the greatest number of occurrences.

Abstract: Parameters are estimated for continuous time linear gray-box models using a fast sensitivity evaluation, which is a measure of how output of the model changes with changes in parameters. A two-step parameter estimation of non-linear models, such as a steady-state model and dynamical model, is performed. A parameter estimation algorithm is employed for estimation of non-linear model parameters via local approximation at different system operating levels or operating set-points. The parameter estimation task is improved by an efficient parameter estimation of linear, continuous-time, stochastic, gray-box models. It is further improved by using a two-step parameter estimation of non-linear, continuous-time, gray-box models. It is still further improved by employing the efficient parameter estimation algorithm for the non-linear gray-box models.

Abstract: A camera module includes a circuit board, a photosensitive chip coupled to the circuit board and having a photosensitive surface, a package material body attached on the circuit board, and a support member mounted on a side of the package material body away from the circuit board. The photosensitive surface includes a photosensitive region. The support member includes a support body and an extension structure. A side of the support body adjacent to the package material body is coplanar with a side of the extension structure adjacent to the package material body, and an orthographic projection of the extension structure on the photosensitive surface is spaced apart from the photosensitive region.

Abstract: A welding system including a welding electrode, a closed-loop cooling device, and a vent. The closed-loop cooling device is configured to cool the welding electrode. The closed-loop cooling device includes a pump and a water line. The vent is located along a path of the water line. The vent is configured to release air trapped within the water line.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rotary vane device and more particularly but not exclusively, to a rotary vane engine or pump. The invention also relates to a rotor assembly suitable for use in such a rotary vane device. The rotor assembly includes a cylindrical rotor body including a plurality of longitudinally extending receiving slots, the cylindrical rotor body further including a hollow core located radially inwardly of the receiving slots; and a plurality of vanes, with each vane being slidingly locatable inside a receiving slot. The rotor assembly is characterized in that the vanes are biased away from the cylindrical rotor by way of a magnet arrangement including vane magnets located in the vanes, and opposing rotor magnets located inside the hollow core of the rotor body.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for multi-modal or multimedia image retrieval are provided. Automatic image annotation is achieved based on a probabilistic semantic model in which visual features and textual words are connected via a hidden layer comprising the semantic concepts to be discovered, to explicitly exploit the synergy between the two modalities. The association of visual features and textual words is determined in a Bayesian framework to provide confidence of the association. A hidden concept layer which connects the visual feature(s) and the words is discovered by fitting a generative model to the training image and annotation words. An Expectation-Maximization (EM) based iterative learning procedure determines the conditional probabilities of the visual features and the textual words given a hidden concept class. Based on the discovered hidden concept layer and the corresponding conditional probabilities, the image annotation and the text-to-image retrieval are performed using the Bayesian framework.

Abstract: In illustrative implementations, a set of separate modulation signals simultaneously modulates a plurality of pixels in a superpixel by a set of separate modulation signals, such that each pixel in the superpixel is modulated by a modulation signal that causes sensitivity of the pixel to vary over time. Each superpixel comprises multiple pixels. In some implementations, the sensitivity of a pixel to incident light is controlled by storage modulation or by light modulation. In some implementations, this invention is used for 3D scanning, i.e., for detection of the 3D position of points in a scene.

Abstract: A gas-fired appliance includes a tank configured to store a fluid to be heated, a powered anode extending into the tank and configured to generate an electric anode current, and a combustion chamber including a burner configured to generate products of combustion. The appliance also includes an exhaust structure, a heat exchanger, and an electronic processor coupled to the powered anode. The products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber to the exhaust structure via the heat exchanger. The electronic processor is configured to determine a duty cycle of the burner, determine whether the duty cycle of the burner exceeds a predetermined threshold, increase a magnitude of a protection parameter of the powered anode from a first value to a second value when the duty cycle of the burner exceeds the predetermined threshold, and control the powered anode according to the second value of the protection parameter.

Abstract: A wireless connecting method is disclosed. The wireless connecting method includes the following operations: executing an application of an electronic device by the electronic device; establishing a BLUETOOTH connection between the electronic device and a backup device by the backup device; and keeping the application alive at a background of the electronic device through the BLUETOOTH connection by the backup device.

Abstract: An integral sound suppressor for a gun barrel, with the integral sound suppressor including a tubular housing designed for nearly completely or completely encasing the gun barrel along its longitudinal direction with an internal thread disposed inside the housing for mounting the integral sound suppressor on an external thread disposed on the muzzle of the gun barrel. Disposed inside the housing is a deflector system for deflecting the gas generated by firearm discharge, and disposed on the housing is a guide surface which is spaced at a distance from the internal thread along the longitudinal direction of the housing for guiding the integral sound suppressor in the region of the front end of the gun barrel.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone cutter for cutting bone and tissue is described. The cutting device comprises a plurality of radially extending struts that form a frame to which a base is connected thereto. Each of the struts that form the frame comprise sidewalls having left and right sidewall portions that are positioned at an angular relationship with respect to a primary strut sidewall portion. A plurality of cutting teeth reside along each of the struts have a tissue cutting surface that is raised above the exterior strut surface. The base of the orthopedic bone cutter may comprise a cross bar or bar and boss interface which secure bone cutter to a drive shaft.

Abstract: A water heater system includes a tank having internal capacity no greater than 1 gallon, a water inlet, and a water outlet. A flow of water into the tank through the water inlet and out of the tank through the water outlet is a downstream water flow. An absence of downstream water flow is a standby condition of the water heater. The water heater includes a heating element for heating water in the tank, a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing into the tank, and a second temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing out of the tank. The water heater further includes a damper upstream of the second temperature sensor to reduce fluctuations in the temperature readings of the second temperature sensor to reduce false detection of downstream water flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lathe that is provided with an eccentricity adjustment mechanism that makes it possible for electrical components that are readily affected by the environment to be eliminated from the turntable; for slip rings in particular, which exhibit problems in terms of the durability of signal transmission during high-speed rotation, to be eliminated as well, and for safe and stable adjustment of workpiece eccentricity to be easily achieved. A lathe provided with an eccentricity adjustment mechanism, in which a linear motion guide unit (6) is provided in an inclined state in an engaging part of the center part of a turntable (1) and an axial-direction-movement part (5A) of a center shaft (5); and, due to the center shaft (5) being moved, the turntable (1) moves in the radial direction by the radial pressing force generated by the linear motion guide unit (6) being inclined, and the eccentricity of the workpiece (3) is adjusted.

Abstract: A camera module includes a circuit board, a photosensitive chip located on the circuit board and electrically coupled to the circuit board, a package body packaged on the circuit board, and a bracket located on a side of the package body away from the circuit board. The package body includes a bearing surface away from the circuit board, and the bracket includes a first surface adjacent to the package body. A ratio between an area of the first surface and an area of the bearing surface is about 0.5 to about 1.2.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus. The method comprising monitoring a utilization rate of each heating element in a first set of heating elements defined by a print head arrangement. Further, the method comprises generating a utilization dataset based upon monitoring of the utilization rate of each heating element in the first set of heating elements print head arrangement. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the utilization dataset to identify one or more overutilized heating elements of the first set of heating elements. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second set of heating elements defined by the print head arrangement. The second set of heating elements comprises a portion of the first set of heating elements exclusive of the one or more overutilized heating elements. The method further includes processing a print job. The processed print job utilized the second set of heating elements during printing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically calibrating a media sensor configured to detect advancing print media in a printing device. In some embodiments, the apparatus selects a first light intensity level and a second light intensity level greater than the first light intensity level. A light source unit, such as a light emitting diode or laser diode is activated to emit light at the second light intensity level. The light passes though print media, for example, a roll of self-adhesive labels, that is advanced along a print path of the printing device. The amount of light transmitted through the print media is measured as the print media advances. If the measured light increases decreases, the light source unit is reactivated to emit light at the first light intensity level. In some embodiments, the apparatus identifies whether print media has changed or an out-of-stock condition exists.