Abstract: In some embodiments, an attenuator for electronic application can include a first group of attenuation steps, with each configured to switchably provide a first fixed attenuation value. The attenuator can further include a second group of attenuation steps, with each configured to switchably provide a second fixed attenuation value. Magnitude of the second fixed attenuation value can be less than magnitude of the first fixed attenuation value. The attenuator can be configured to be capable of providing a total attenuation value from approximately zero to a sum of the attenuation steps of the first group and the second group in increments of the second fixed attenuation value.

Abstract: For a battery system including a battery pack and a battery management system, the battery system having output battery terminals, a method and apparatus for preventing inadvertent connection and disconnection the output battery terminals from the battery pack is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same, including: a first substrate; and a second substrate adjacent to the first substrate, where a side wall of the second substrate includes one or more diced portions that can include a blade diced portion and a stealth diced portion; and also imaging devices and methods of forming the same, including: a first substrate; a transparent layer; an adhesive layer between the first substrate and the transparent layer; a second substrate, where the first substrate is disposed between the adhesive layer and the second substrate; and a groove extending from the adhesive layer to the second substrate, where the groove is filled with the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A system includes circuitry for rewriting blockchains in a non-tamper-evident or tamper-evident operation using a key secret held in portions by multiple individually untrusted parties. The blockchains may include a series of blocks secured by integrity codes that may prevent non-tamper-evident rewrites by non-trusted parties that are not in possession of the key secret or individually-untrusted parties in possession of only a portion of the key secret. In some cases, multiple individually-untrusted parties may combine their portions into the key secret. As a group, the multiple individually-untrusted parties may perform non-tamper-evident operation with respect to at least one integrity code within the blockchain.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a housing, a rack, a pinion gear, and a radially preloaded rack bearing. The rack is supported by the housing, and the pinion gear is meshed to the rack. The radially preloaded rack bearing is supported and preloaded to the housing and is preloaded to the rack.

Abstract: A liquid supply unit includes a first chamber, a second chamber, a wall portion, an opening/closing member, a flexible film member and a transmitting member. The wall portion includes a communication opening allowing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. The opening/closing member changes a posture between a closing posture for closing the communication opening from the second chamber side and an opening posture. The flexible film member is displaced based on a pressure change of the second chamber. The transmitting member transmits a displacement force to the opening/closing member to be the opening posture when the second chamber is set to a negative pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold value, and transmits the displacement force to the opening/closing member to be the closing posture according to a displacement of the flexible film member when the second chamber is pressurized.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical security feature that is based on a single axis alignment of mirrors or facets in a structured surface that forms a micro mirror array. In an aspect, a device is described that includes a reflecting structure on a first layer, where the reflecting structure has a top surface with multiple embossed facets arranged in a spatial orientation that produces a flat ring optical effect upon incidence of light. In another aspect, a method for making the device is described that provides a reflecting layer and produces the reflecting structure on the reflecting layer with multiple facets arranged in the spatial orientation to produce the flat ring optical effect. In yet another aspect, an apparatus for making the device is described that includes a pressing device and a stamping device to transfer a pattern of the reflecting structure to a reflecting material.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and a second RF signal path. The first RF signal path can provide a first RF signal when active and the second RF signal path can provide a second RF signal when active. The second RF signal path can include a matching network with a load impedance configured to prevent a resonance in the second RF signal path due to coupling with the first RF signal path when the first RF signal path is active.

Abstract: A shaft (1) is shown comprising a shaft section (2) having an axis (3), a tooth geometry (4) at least at one end of said shaft section, said tooth geometry (4) having a first end (5) opposite said shaft section (2) and a second end (6) adjacent said shaft section (2), a number of teeth (7) distributed in circumferential direction around said axis (3), a bottom curve (9) between adjacent teeth (7), and an outer tooth curve (12), said bottom curve (9) having a positive slope from said first end (5) towards said shaft section (2) and a negative slope (14) at said second end (6). In such a shaft wear should be made as small as possible. To this end said bottom curve (9) comprises a section having a concave bottom curvature (15) between said positive slope and said negative slope.

Abstract: A system for distributing a fracking proppant at a well site using a support frame to position a series of storage containers above a conveyor. The support frame receives a plurality of storage container and aligns the storage containers with hoppers formed on the conveyor. The support frame can include outriggers that extend to increase the stability and the amount of supported weight. The support frame includes a series of cross supports that extend across the conveyor belts to support the storage containers. The cross supports can include load cells to monitor the weight of the storage containers and stored proppant. The width of the cross supports can be adjusted and the support frame can include an extension frame to expand the width of the support frame. A control panel is included to display the status of the containers (full/empty/partially full) and control and monitoring the discharge rate of the plurality of containers.

Abstract: A touch-sensor structure includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, insulating isolation portions, and an intermediate conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes first conductive units, connection lines and second conductive units. Each connection line connects to two first conductive units. The second conductive layer includes bridge lines. Each bridge line is electrically connected to two second conductive units. The insulating isolation portion is disposed between the connection line and the bridge line. The intermediate conductive layer is at least disposed at an overlapping position between the bridge lines and the second conductive units to isolate the first conductive layer from the second conductive layer. The intermediate conductive layer electrically connects each bridge line to the corresponding second conductive units.

Abstract: A location tracking unit for use with a location based service system is presented. The location tracking unit comprises: a navigation receiver adapted to implement a location tracking function; data processing means adapted to determine an occupied location according to a first location matching process, the first location matching process using navigation data from the navigation receiver and a first set of geographic data; and data processing means adapted to verify the integrity of the first location matching process based on a second location matching process using navigation data and a second set of geographic data.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes recording heads and a head base. The recording heads include a first recording head, a second recording head, a third recording head, and a fourth recording head. The first to fourth recording heads each include three segment recording heads. The segment recording heads eject ink on to paper. The head base supports the 12 segment recording heads. One segment recording head among the 12 segment recording heads is selected as a reference head. The segment recording heads other than the reference head among the 12 segment recording heads are arranged such that longitudinal directions of the segment recording heads other than the reference head are parallel to a longitudinal direction of the reference head. The head base is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the reference head is orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the paper.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas burner assembly is provided. The gas burner assembly includes an inner burner stage positioned concentrically within an outer burner stage. The fuel supply system includes a fuel supply for providing a primary flow of fuel through a primary fuel conduit. A control valve and a modulating valve are operably coupled in series on the primary fuel conduit for regulating the primary flow of fuel. A first fuel supply conduit and a second fuel supply conduit tee off the primary fuel conduit to supply fuel to the outer burner stage and the inner burner stage, respectively. A shutoff valve is operably coupled to the first fuel supply conduit for stopping the flow of fuel through the first fuel supply conduit, e.g., during a simmer operation.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a downhole tool having a flapper valve assembly for controlling the backflow of fluid into a tubing string. The downhole tool includes a first sleeve slidably disposable within at least a portion of the flapper valve assembly and the downhole tool. The downhole tool can also include a second sleeve slidably disposed within the downhole tool. The present invention is also related to a method of using the downhole tool. The method includes the step of positioning the downhole tool in a wellbore. Once the downhole tool is positioned in the wellbore, the first sleeve is shifted to interact with the flapper valve assembly.

Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a thermistor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the thermistor senses a temperature level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.

Abstract: A system includes a valve and a packer for controlling a location of a fluid in a low pressure well. The valve includes a valve housing and a pressure activated valve body that is axially movable in the valve housing between a closed position and at least a partly open position. The valve body has a surface facing a pressurized liquid. Movement of the valve body is opposed by a resilient element, and the valve is designed to open at a specific pressure. The valve housing has at least one valve opening that is exposed for pressurized fluid when the valve body is moved to its at least partly open position. The packer is peripherally positioned at the outside of the valve housing. The system is adapted to be releasable connected to a coiled tubing or a wireline.

Abstract: Multimedia content segment identified by users may be shared among media devices and media device users. Media content segment metadata is generated based on one or more identified media content item segments identified in one or more media content items. The media content segment metadata may include, but is not limited to, information indicating segment start and stop times, information about the particular media content item (e.g., title, actors, original air date), and other user-provided descriptive information. A link for the media content segment metadata may be posted for display on a webpage and which enables other users to access the media content segment metadata.

Abstract: A synchronous reluctance type rotary electric machine of an embodiment includes, a rotor core, a plurality of conductor bars, short-circuit rings, a stator core, and multiphase armature windings. The rotor core includes multi-layered hollow parts having a convex shape toward a side radially inward formed for each pole in cross section, and a bridge formed between each of the hollow parts and an outer circumferential surface thereof. The plurality of conductor bars are disposed in the respective hollow parts. The short-circuit rings connect the plurality of conductor bars together. Then, in all of the hollow parts of a second layer and subsequent layers other than the hollow part of a first layer which is at a position farthest from the rotation axis of the rotor core, the conductor bars are disposed at both end portions thereof close to the bridge at a predetermined distance from the bridge.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, computer program products, computer systems for providing a computing search platform for conducting opinion searches over the Internet concerning aggregated social media electronic messages about public opinions and public sentiments for a wide variety of matrices, such as social media posting of a particular industry over a specified time period, electronic social media posting on the public sentiments, public buzz, and public mood. Methods and systems of the present disclosure are directed to collecting and analyzing unstructured social media messages and correlating with structured entity representations in order to discern amount of interest in (buzz) and feelings about (mood) the real world organizations, people, products, and locations described by those entity representations transforming the data into a readily understandable visual display of the aggregated results on a computer display.