Abstract: Techniques to provide compression and/or decompression. A method includes obtaining a first set of control points specifying a first set of compression ratios corresponding to respective first regions of a compression domain, and minimum and maximum uncompressed values within the compression domain. The method can further include scaling the first set of control points based on the minimum and maximum uncompressed values to obtain a scaled set of control points, wherein a first scaled control point is located at the minimum uncompressed value, and a last scaled control point is located at the maximum uncompressed value. The method can further include adjusting at least one scaled control point such that a first slope does not exceed 1. The method can further include compressing or decompressing between the compression domain and a range of compressed values, wherein a respective compression ratio corresponds to a respective slope of the set of slopes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a control section. The developing device includes a development container for containing a non-magnetic one-component developer composed only of a toner, a developer carrying member having an outer circumferential surface on which a toner layer is formed, and a regulation blade that regulates a thickness of the toner layer. The control section executes speed reduction control to reduce a rotation speed of the developer carrying member at a time of warming-up before image formation to a first speed lower than a reference speed at a time of the image formation. In the speed reduction control, the control section raises the rotation speed of the developer carrying member at a first acceleration rate until the first speed is reached from a state where rotation of the developer carrying member is stopped.

Abstract: Power amplifier modules with controllable envelope tracking noise filters are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system includes a power amplifier module and an envelope tracker that provides the power amplifier module with a power amplifier supply voltage that changes based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier module. The power amplifier module includes a controllable filter that filters the power amplifier supply voltage to provide flexibility in filtering envelope tracking noise.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A first rack assembly is slidably positioned within the wash chamber. A first spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A second spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining the perimeter of the third rack assembly. A wire insert is configured to removably couple to the wire framework. The wire insert includes a wire floor portion.

Abstract: An aftertreatment system for treating constituents of an exhaust gas includes: a housing defining a first internal volume and a second internal volume; an oxidation catalyst in the first internal volume and extending along a first axis, the oxidation catalyst configured to receive at least a portion of the exhaust gas via an inlet conduit fluidly coupled to the oxidation catalyst; a filter in the first internal volume and extending along a second axis parallel to and offset from the first axis, wherein an outlet of the filter is disposed within the second internal volume and configured to emit the exhaust gas into the second internal volume; at least one selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in the second internal volume and extending along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and a decomposition tube in the second internal volume in a direction parallel to the third axis.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) polarizer includes a frame having a first side and a second side spaced apart from and opposite the first side, a first polarizer substrate attached to the first side and including a plurality of conductor patterns formed on a surface of the first polarizer substrate, and a second polarizer substrate attached to the second side. The first polarizer substrate and the second polarizer substrate are attached to the first side and the second side, respectively, under tension.

Abstract: A system and method for generating computerized floor plans is provided. The system comprises a mobile computing device, such as a smart cellular telephone, a tablet computer, etc. having an internal digital gyroscope and camera, and an interior modeling software engine interacts with the gyroscope and camera to allow a user to quickly and conveniently take measurements of interior building features, and to create computerized floor plans of such features from any location within a space, without requiring the user to stay in a single location while taking the measurements. The system presents the user with a graphical user interface that allows a user to quickly and conveniently delineate wall corner features using a reticle displayed within the user interface. As corners are identified, the system processes the corner information and information from the gyroscope to calculate wall features and creates a floor plan of the space with high accuracy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses for nucleic acid sequencing, and methods of making and using such apparatuses. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a magnetic sensor array comprising a plurality of magnetic sensors, each of the plurality of magnetic sensors coupled to at least one address line, at least one selector element, and a fluid chamber adjacent to the magnetic sensor array, the fluid chamber having a proximal wall adjacent to the magnetic sensor array. A method of manufacturing sequencing device comprises fabricating a first addressing line on a substrate, fabricating a plurality of magnetic sensors such that the bottom portion of each sensor is coupled to the first addressing line, depositing a dielectric material between the sensors, fabricating additional addressing lines coupled to the top portions of the sensors, and removing a portion of the dielectric material adjacent to the sensors to create a fluid chamber.

Abstract: Methods for producing graphene-based products using graphene paste compositions. These methods include producing free-standing graphene foils, films, sheets, polymer supported graphene films, printed graphene structures, graphene features on polymer films, graphene substrates, and graphene metal foils. The methods impart functional characteristics, including corrosion protection and barrier properties to achieve selective enhancement of desired electrical, thermal, mechanical, barrier and other properties.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a development voltage power supply, and a control section. The developing device includes a development container for containing a non-magnetic one-component developer composed only of a toner, a developer carrying member having an outer circumferential surface on which a toner layer is formed, and a toner supply member that supplies the toner to the developer carrying member. The control section performs control so that, as a cumulative drive time of the developing device increases, a supply voltage Vsdc becomes larger than a reference supply voltage and a development voltage Vdc becomes smaller than a reference development voltage, thus executing control to vary the development voltage Vdc and the supply voltage Vsdc so as to increase a potential difference Vsdc?Vdc between the supply voltage Vsdc and the development voltage Vdc.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing print jobs among a plurality of printing devices. At least one desktop client is disclosed in the methods and systems. The at least one desktop client includes a database storing a desktop client application and a processor configured to collect data, transmit/receive data with a cloud-based server, choose a suitable printing device and direct a print job to the suitable printing device. The at least one desktop client can be a computing device, a mobile device, or a local server. The at least one desktop device may also be a multiple-function printing device (MFP).

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimal planning and real-time control of energy storage systems for multiple simultaneous applications are provided. Energy storage applications can be analyzed for relevant metrics such as profitability and impact on the functionality of the electric grid, subject to system-wide and energy storage hardware constraints. The optimal amount of storage capacity and the optimal operating strategy can then be derived for each application and be prioritized according to a dispatch stack, which can be statically or dynamically updated according to data forecasts. Embodiments can consist of both planning tools and real-time control algorithms.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a transfer residual toner collection operation including a toner adhesion step of allowing transfer residual toner to temporarily adhere to the collecting roller during execution of image forming operation, a toner moving step of moving the transfer residual toner adhered on the collecting roller to an image carrier after the image forming operation is finished, and a toner collecting step of moving the transfer residual toner from the image carrier to an intermediate transfer body and collecting the transfer residual toner. The control unit controls an image forming unit having white background toner amount that is a threshold value or more, to apply the collecting roller with a voltage having the same polarity as toner charge polarity in the toner adhesion step, and to apply the collecting roller with a voltage having opposite polarity to the toner charge polarity in the toner moving step.

Abstract: A packing fastener includes a base member and a key member. The base member includes: a first tubular portion; a flange portion provided on a first opening edge of the first tubular portion at one end; and a pair of hook members coupled to opposite inner side faces of the first tubular portion to be bent toward a second opening edge of the first tubular portion at the other end. The key member has a second tubular portion removably insertable in the first tubular portion via the first opening edge. The pair of hook members are, with no external force applied to it, arranged in a wedge shape as seen in a sectional view to be increasingly close to each other toward tip ends. An outer side face of the first tubular portion has a slope inclined inward from the first opening edge toward the second opening edge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of selecting a nickel-cobalt-manganese-based active material for a positive electrode, the method comprising: a heat mass spectrometry step that involves determining by heat mass spectrometry a mass decrease rate (mass %/min) of a nickel-cobalt-manganese-based active material at temperatures from 100 to 600° C. at a temperature raising rate of 5° C./min; and a determination step that involves determining whether the nickel-cobalt-manganese-based active material satisfies an expression (1). The present disclosure provides a selection method and a production method of a nickel-cobalt-manganese-based active material for a positive electrode capable of enhancing storage properties of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, as well as such a nickel-cobalt-manganese-based active material for a positive electrode, as well as a mixture, a positive electrode plate, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the same.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, a controller applies a collection voltage to a cleaning roller by a voltage application part in image formation process. The controller adjusts the collection voltage applied to the cleaning roller on bases of uncollected toner quantity of a toner image and residual charge of an image carrier, the uncollected toner being part of after-transfer remaining toner which results after formation of the toner image on an outer circumferential surface of the image carrier and transfer of the toner image onto a transfer-objective member, and which has missed being collected by the cleaning roller so as to remain even after one-round rotation of the image carrier.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, a controller makes a reference image formed on an outer circumferential surface of an image carrier and transferred to a belt. Then, uncollected toner of the reference image, which is part of after-transfer remaining toner of the reference image that has missed being collected so as to remain even after one-round rotation of the image carrier, is transferred to the belt. The controller measures a collectable toner quantity corresponding to an applied voltage of the cleaning roller on a basis of an uncollected toner quantity estimated based on a toner concentration of the uncollected toner, and executes such adjustment that the collectable toner quantity becomes equal to or larger than a maximum value of the after-transfer remaining toner quantity and moreover the applied voltage becomes equal to or lower than a maximum applicable voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a transfer residual toner collection operation including a toner adhesion step of allowing transfer residual toner to temporarily adhere to the collecting roller during execution of image forming operation, a toner moving step of moving the transfer residual toner adhered on the collecting roller to an image carrier after the image forming operation is finished, and a toner collecting step of moving the transfer residual toner from the image carrier to an intermediate transfer body so that a cleaning mechanism can collect the transfer residual toner. The control unit controls an image forming unit having developing current less than a threshold value, to apply the collecting roller with a voltage having the same polarity as toner charge polarity in the toner adhesion step, and to apply the collecting roller with a voltage having opposite polarity to the toner charge polarity in the toner moving step.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body; an intermediate transfer unit; and an image-bearing-member unit. the intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a frame, a drive roller, a tension roller, a transfer roller that is movable between a transfer position and a retractive position. The frame includes a first protrusion. The image-bearing-member unit includes an image bearing member, and a first regulating guide that extends in an axial direction of the image bearing member, and that faces the first protrusion in the upper-and-lower direction. The intermediate transfer belt and the image bearing member face each other with a predetermined length therebetween under a state in which the first protrusion and the first regulating guide are held in contact with each other, and in which the transfer roller has come to the retractive position.

Abstract: A carriage includes an optical system that detects reflected light from an image reading position on a document. A carriage controller controls, when the image of the document is to be read, movement of the carriage through a drive device, on the basis of the position of the carriage with respect to a predetermined reference position. A carriage travel measurer performs measurement about the movement of the carriage, and generates a measurement value. A reset decider decides whether the position of the carriage recognized by the carriage controller has to be reset, on the basis of the measurement value. When it is decided that the position of the carriage has to be reset, the carriage controller detects the reference position, and resets the position of the carriage.