Abstract: A pair of optical ferrules is disclosed. Each of a first ferrule and a second ferrule of the pair may include at least one protrusion and at least one recess. Each of the protrusions or recesses may have at least one channel for holding an optical fiber. Upon mating the two ferrules, the protrusion of the first ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the second ferrule and the protrusion of the second ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the first ferrule such that the optical fibers held in each protrusion are optically aligned to be connected face to face with the optical fibers held in the corresponding recess of the other ferrule.

Abstract: A method for recovering tin and/or tin alloy from a substrate comprising providing a substrate having tin and/or tin alloy thereon; contacting the tin and/or tin alloy with a stripping solution comprising an inorganic acid and a persulfate compound; recovering tin salt and/or tin alloy salt precipitated from the stripping solution; and recovering tin and/or tin alloy from the tin salt and/or tin alloy salt, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a water supply system with one or more water consuming appliances includes a water heater fluidly coupled to a water consuming appliance through a supply conduit. The water consuming appliance includes an appliance communication module for communicating a target temperature. A mixing valve is positioned on the supply conduit, is in operative communication with the appliance communication module, and heats water from the water heater and cold water from the water supply to provide a flow of supply water to the water consuming appliance at the target temperature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating trading of securities, preferred methods comprising receiving a first buy or sell order from a first user; calculating a block price range; determining that said first order is reasonably priced; transmitting to a second user a notification that a reasonably priced order is present, but without notifying said second user of the side; receiving a second order from said second user, wherein said second order is a contra to said first order and nearly matches but does not cross said first order; transmitting a contra order notification to said second user after said second order is received, said contra order notification indicating that a nearly matching contra order is active; receiving a third order from said second user, said third order being a contra to said first order and crossing said first order, and executing a trade comprising said first order and said third order.

Abstract: A pair of optical ferrules is disclosed. Each of a first ferrule and a second ferrule of the pair may include at least one protrusion and at least one recess. Each of the protrusions or recesses may have at least one channel for holding an optical fiber. Upon mating the two ferrules, the protrusion of the first ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the second ferrule and the protrusion of the second ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the first ferrule such that the optical fibers held in each protrusion are optically aligned to be connected face to face with the optical fibers held in the corresponding recess of the other ferrule.

Abstract: A liquid extraction assembly for extracting liquid from a mass including a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a path between the inlet and the outlet. The housing has the mass forced into the inlet to move the mass from the inlet to the outlet. The housing includes a rotating screen adjacent the path, with the rotating screen defining one wall of the path. The rotating screen includes a plurality of openings located at the path. Pressure from mass forced into the inlet presses the mass against the openings of the rotating screen to thereby force at least a portion of liquid in the mass to pass through the openings of the rotating screen. The housing has at least one stirring arm extending into the path between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one stirring arm stirring the mass in the path.

Abstract: A memory device incorporates a chip enable protection circuit implementing a secured chip enable method providing a passcode protected enable scheme with secure chip disable for the memory device. The passcode can be programmed at manufacturing or programmed by the user. Memory device access is enabled by receiving the correct passcode and memory device access is denied when the wrong passcode is entered. Furthermore, the secured chip enable method implements secure chip disable where the memory device is disabled in response to receiving wrong passcodes repeatedly for a maximum number of tries.

Abstract: A method in a clocked integrated circuit receiving an input clock signal having a clock frequency and a command signal for accessing a memory element in the clocked integrated circuit. The method detects the input clock signal having a clock frequency above or below a frequency threshold. The method generates a clock detect output signal having a first logical state in response to the clock frequency being below the frequency threshold and generates the clock detect output signal having a second logical state in response to the clock frequency being above the frequency threshold. The method delays the command signal by a first timing latency to generate a timing adjusted control signal where the first timing latency is one or more clock periods of the input clock signal. Finally, the method adjusts the first timing latency in response to the clock detect output signal.

Abstract: A memory device implements a memory read training method using a dedicated read command to retrieve training data from a register for performing memory read training while the memory device remains operating in the normal operation mode. Subsequent to the memory read training, the memory device may then receive the normal read command to read data from the memory cell array or the normal write command to write data to the memory cell array. In this manner, memory read training is performed simply by issuing read commands and carrying out read operations without requiring the memory device to enter and exit special memory read training mode for performing calibration.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to generating ammonia from engine exhaust instead of or in addition to using on-board storage tank(s) and/or doser(s) to provide the necessary chemical reagents for purification of the exhaust stream. Systems and methods for generating ammonia and/or hydrogen from engine exhaust in exhaust aftertreatment systems under ambient conditions comprise at least one water-gas shift (WGS) catalyst and at least one ammonia synthesis catalyst (AMS catalyst) positioned downstream of the WGS catalyst. The WGS catalyst is configured, using the engine exhaust gas as an input, to generate hydrogen used by the AMS catalyst as inputs to generate ammonia and/or hydrogen. The ammonia and/or hydrogen thus generated are used downstream in ammonia- and/or hydrogen-based selective catalytic reduction catalysts (SCR).

Abstract: A communication system and method are provided to assist a user in conveying and/or exchanging a communication. The present communication system and method provide a low tech platform that enables a user to utilize an icon exchange communication system and method while allowing the integration of core vocabulary instructional concepts and techniques. The present communication system and method allows for seamless presentation of core vocabulary while also providing access to fringe vocabulary words.

Abstract: A bicycle crankset, which is adapted to connect to a chain, includes a chainring, a spider, and a crankarm. The chainring has teeth on an edge thereof to engage the chain and a chainring axis through a center thereof. The spider has spider arms to detachably connect to the chainring and a connecting bore. The spider has a core axis through a center of the connecting bore, and the core axis is kept a predetermined distance away from the chainring axis to form a deviation. The crankarm has an engaging member to engage the connecting bore of the spider. Tips of the teeth of the chainring move in a noncircular path when the crankarm is exerted to drive the chainring to turned, and the noncircular path is adjustable by shifting a location of the connecting bore which change the deviation.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein allow consumers to lock or unlock their credit files at multiple credit bureaus in real-time or near real-time. The service may allow a consumer to provide identifying information, such as a personal identifier to lock or unlock credit files at a plurality of credit bureaus over a network. Upon receiving the personal identifier, the system may use the personal identifier to translate the identifier into a plurality of access codes for respective credit bureaus, for example by accessing a data structure, such as a database or table, that stores a personal identifier and access codes that are associated with a consumer. The system may then use the access codes to automatically initiate locking or unlocking of credit files for the consumer at the respective credit bureaus.

Abstract: Calibration circuits and methods to set an on-chip impedance to match a target impedance where the reference voltage does not equal one-half of the positive power supply voltage Vddq are described. In particular, calibration circuits and methods are provided to enable accurate impedance matching at a reference voltage Vref of K*Vddq, where K is a number between 0 and 1. In some embodiments, a calibration circuit for impedance matching at a reference voltage of K*Vddq uses a ratioed current mirror. In another embodiment, a calibration circuit for impedance matching at a reference voltage of K*Vddq uses a ratioed mirror pull-up circuit. In yet another embodiment, a calibration circuit for impedance matching at a reference voltage of K*Vddq uses a ratioed target impedance.

Abstract: A clock timing adjust circuit is incorporated in a clocked integrated circuit to detect an input clock frequency and to adjust the timing latency of an internal control signal for accessing a memory element in the clocked integrated circuit. The clock timing adjust circuit introduces an adjustable timing latency to an internal control signal derived from the command signal. The clock timing adjust circuit operates to adjust the timing latency of the control signal to cause clock based operations to either be advanced or delayed by one or more clock cycles in response to the clock frequency detection. In one embodiment, the clock timing adjust circuit includes a clock frequency detect circuit and a latency adjust circuit. The clock timing adjust circuit can operate at both high and low clock frequencies to ensure that undesired data collision events are obviated without introducing unnecessary delays.

Abstract: A bicycle crankset, which is adapted to connect to a chain, includes a chainring and a crankarm. The chainring has a plurality of teeth, a plurality of connecting bores of first noncircular motion path, and a plurality of connecting bores of circular motion path. The crankarm has a plurality of connecting arms to be selected to secured to the connecting bores of first noncircular motion path or the connecting bores of circular motion path. The chainring provides a first noncircular path of motion when the connecting arms of the crankarm are secured to the connecting bores of first noncircular motion path, and chainring provides a circular path of motion when the connecting arms of the crankarm are secured to the connecting bores of circular motion path.

Abstract: Diversity receiver front end system with post-amplifier filters. A receiving system can include a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system can further include a plurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system can include a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each one of the first plurality of bandpass filters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and can be configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band.

Abstract: A wafer carrier including a case having an opening at one end, slots disposed in the case and receiving wafers, and a wireless communication circuitry disposed on an inner sidewall of the case and configured to detect humidity of a gas contained in the case may be provided. The wireless communication circuitry may be further configured to compare the detected humidity with a threshold humidity predetermined, and transmit a first warning signal to an external host via wireless communication when the detected humidity is greater than the threshold humidity.

Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating conditions using antithrombin-heparin conjugates are disclosed. For example, medical devices can be coated with antithrombin-heparin (ATH) resulting in reduced thrombogenicity. Various conditions can likewise be treated with ATH.