Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotation body, a cap member and an elastic member. The cap member includes a main body part covering an outside of an end part of the fixing belt and a flange part covering an external diameter side of the end part. The elastic member includes a belt insertion part into which the end part is inserted, a cap insertion part into which the flange part is inserted and a contact part coming into contact with an internal side face of the main body part. When the fixing belt is deformed to an internal diameter side, the elastic member is elastically deformed to make the belt insertion part moved to the internal diameter side, and then, a gap is formed in at least a part between the internal side face of the main body part and the contact part.

Abstract: A non-transitory recording medium includes an installer program that causes a computer within an information processing device to function as a device list generation unit, a display control unit, and an installation processing unit. The device list generation unit generates a device list. The display control unit causes the device list to be displayed in a first display area; causes a driver list to be displayed in a second display area; causes the device selected from the device list to be displayed in a third display area; and causes the driver selected from the driver list to be displayed corresponding to the device displayed in the third display area. The installation processing unit installs, into the information processing device, the driver displayed corresponding to the device.

Abstract: A mobile device collaboration method includes provisioning a first mobile device with unique user identification related to a role and skill set of an associated user of the first mobile device, detecting a second mobile device responsive to a condition at the first mobile device, communicating the unique user identification to the second mobile device, authenticating the first mobile device through the second mobile device communicating the unique user identification to an external database, and providing access for the first mobile device through the second mobile device if the authenticating is successful. A mobile device collaboration system and a mobile device are also described.

Abstract: A mark detection apparatus includes a reading unit, a converter, and a determination part. The reading unit reads an image on a document. The converter compares respective portions of the image read by the reading unit with a plurality of preset reference patterns, and converts a portion of the image to a character associated with a corresponding reference pattern. The determination part determines that the portion of the image to have been compared on the document is a mark in a case in which the character converted by the converter is a preset first reference character, and that the portion of the image to have been compared on the document is not a mark in a case in which the character converted by the converter is not a preset first reference character.

Abstract: A method of controlling current in a parallel battery systems includes providing at least two parallel connected batteries, each said battery having an internal resistance and dissipating heat while operating; during operation, measuring at least the temperature and current of each individual battery; and providing instructions to a temperature control system having a temperature control module coupled with each said battery for individually cooling each said battery to adjust temperature of at least one battery in order to maintain the current at a target value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for communicating with a serial/parallel interface are described herein. In an aspect, a wireless device includes a transceiver configured to output a plurality of transmission paths, and an antenna configured to output a signal corresponding to at least one of the transmission paths. The wireless device further includes a wireless switching component including a radio-frequency switch configured to selectively connect the antenna to one of the transmission paths, a plurality of signal pins, a serial interface including a plurality of serial inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins, a parallel interface including a plurality of parallel inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins, a decoder, and a level shifter configured to control the radio-frequency switch, the at least one pin electrically coupled to both a serial input and a parallel input.

Abstract: In one aspect, thermal energy storage systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermal energy storage system comprises a thermal energy storage system comprising a container and a heat exchange apparatus disposed within the container. The heat exchange apparatus comprises a tank, a manifold at least partially disposed within the tank, and a phase change material disposed within the tank and in thermal contact with the manifold.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical suturing device has a shaft; a needle slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end; and a guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture and moveably coupled to the shaft for selectable movement between a retracted position and an enabled position. In a related method, a distal shaft end, having a guide tip in a retracted position, is passed through a minimally invasive entry point and into a body cavity. The guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture is actuated into an enabled position such that an insertion profile of the guide tip and shaft in the enabled position is larger than an access dimension of the minimally invasive entry point. A needle, slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end, is advanced on a path substantially parallel to the shaft, toward and in alignment with the ferrule receiving aperture.

Abstract: A toner includes a plurality of toner particles that each include a core and a shell layer disposed over a surface of the core. The shell layer contains a unit derived from a thermoplastic resin and a unit derived from a monomer or prepolymer of a thermosetting resin. A surface of each of the toner particles has a Young's modulus that changes by a proportion of no greater than 20% from 30° C. to 50° C., and changes by a proportion from 50° C. to 70° C. that when divided by the proportion of change from 30° C. to 50° C., yields a value of at least 3.0 and no greater than 10.0. The Young's modulus is measured in a state in which an external additive is not adhered to the toner particle using a scanning probe microscope while raising a cantilever temperature thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing capacitive loading of an envelope tracker are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless device comprises an envelope tracker including an output configured to generate a power amplifier supply voltage, a plurality of power amplifiers, and a power supply network configured to provide the power amplifier supply voltage to the plurality of power amplifiers. The power amplifier supply network includes a first inductor electrically connected between a supply input of a first power amplifier and the output of the envelope tracker, and a second inductor electrically connected between a supply input of a second power amplifier and the output of the envelope tracker. The first inductor resonates with a distributed capacitance of the power supply network at a frequency greater than the envelope tracker's modulation bandwidth of, and the second inductor resonates with the distributed capacitance at a frequency greater than the envelope tracker's modulation bandwidth.

Abstract: An archery bow is described, and which has a resilient, main body having opposite distal ends; a biasing member is borne by the main body; and a string extends, and is tensioned between the distal ends, and wherein the string has a first, at rest position; a second, arrow release position; and a third, string return position, and wherein the biasing member applies a biasing force to resist the movement of the string from the third, string return position, to the first, at rest position, and a biasing force to assist in the movement of the string from the first, at rest position, to the second, arrow release position.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods related to mixed mode time interleaved digital-to-analog converters (DACs). In some embodiments, such DACs can be utilized for radio-frequency (RF) applications. In some embodiments, a DAC for RF applications can include a first circuit configured to receive a digital signal and perform a first operation to yield an increased bandwidth of the DAC. The DAC can further include a second circuit configured to perform a second operation on the digital signal to yield an analog signal representative of the digital signal. The second circuit can be further configured to reduce or remove an image within the increased bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an acoustic response attributed to a location of an impact, in particular a touch event, on a surface of an object including at least one transducer comprising the steps of: a) receiving an acoustic signal from at least one transducer, wherein the signal corresponds to a predetermined excitation (E) at at least one location on the surface; b) determining an acoustic response based on the acoustic signal received in step a); and c) determining the acoustic response attributed to at least one location on the surface different to the location of the predetermined excitation based on at least two different acoustic responses determined in step b).

Abstract: Carbon dioxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon dioxide via hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. The process utilizes an initial feed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen converted under Fischer Tropsch conditions to hydrocarbons followed by subsequent displacement of the carbon monoxide in the reactor feed with carbon dioxide, which is then converted to carbon monoxide under reverse water gas shift conditions and the initial carbon monoxide feed being terminated once the reverse water gas shift conversion of carbon dioxide. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.

Abstract: While a display portion displays a list, a scroll operation that is an operation of moving a touch position after the touch of a touch panel portion and of thereafter cancelling the touch of the touch panel portion is performed such that the touch panel portion receives an instruction to scroll the list, and, when the scroll operation is performed on the touch panel portion, the display portion changes a scroll width at which the list is scrolled according to a scroll operation direction that is a direction in which the touch position is moved at the time of the scroll operation.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a sector pass/fail indicator circuit configured to store a pass/fail indicator for each sector in a first block of memory cells. The pass/fail indicator has a first value indicating the respective sector has failed erase verification and has a second value indicating the respective sector has passed erase verification. The sector pass/fail indicator circuit set the respective pass/fail indicators to the second value for one or more sectors in the first block after the respective sectors pass erase verification following a previous block erase operation of the first block. The first block is subjected to subsequent block erase operation where only word lines associated with the sectors having a pass/fail indicator having the first value are biased to the first bias voltage level.

Abstract: Contemplated compositions and methods for treating in service concrete includes the step of contacting a portion of the in service concrete with an composition, wherein the composition comprises a base and at least one of an acid and a salt of an acid in an amount effective to convert insoluble calcium salts into soluble calcium gluconates that can be washed away with water or other liquid.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a point of sale (POS) device is provided. The POS device includes a memory and at least one processor. The processor is configured to perform an authorized set of functions established by an external management module. The authorized set of functions include purchase transaction processing of inventory identified as available to the POS device by the external management module.

Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively control plurality of dosing modules may include receiving data indicative of an exhaust flow rate. An amount of reductant to be dosed may be determined based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the exhaust flow rate. A decomposition delay time may also be determined and a first dosing module and a second dosing module may be selectively activated. The first dosing module may be selectively activated at a first time and the second dosing module is selectively activated at a second time. The second time is based on the first time and the determined decomposition delay time.