Abstract: A method for monitoring an ignition system including a spark plug of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method comprises determining an operation value associated with an electrical parameter indicative of an operation of the ignition system during actuation of the spark plug. The method further comprises determining at least one parameter indicative of a current engine operation condition of the internal combustion engine, and determining a current spark plug state of the spark plug based on the at least one engine parameter and the operation value associated with the electrical parameter of the ignition system.

Abstract: A frame-type disc filter (100) is provided with a bypass water collector (33) disposed adjacent an inlet to the disc filter. Influent water overflows the inlet into the bypass water collector. A conduit is communicatively connected to the bypass water collector for directing the bypass water from the frame-type disc filter to an effluent channel that is independent of the frame-type disc filter.

Abstract: Various technologies for mitigating distortion in coherent image products generated from SAR data are described herein. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) datasets generated based upon SAR returns from first and second passes of a SAR platform over a scene are received. The SAR datasets can be co-notched at matching sample indices to improve coherence of SAR images generated from the datasets. Windowed SAR data is generated by applying independent windows to subsets of each of the datasets to reduce sidelobe levels of their image impulse responses. Coherent image products are generated based upon the windowed SAR data, wherein an image quality of the coherent image products is improved as compared to coherent image products generated based upon the SAR datasets.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit of the present disclosure includes: first power and second power supply lines that are coupled to a protected circuit; a third power supply line that is supplied with a voltage different from voltages supplied to the first and second power supply lines; a detection circuit that is coupled between the first and second power supply lines and detects a surge occurring in the first power supply line; an inverter circuit that includes one or more inverters coupled in series, and is coupled between the first and second power supply lines; a protection transistor that is coupled between the first and second power supply lines, and is controlled by an output of the detection circuit to cause the surge to flow through the second power supply line; and a time constant circuit that is coupled to at least the third power supply line and the protection transistor.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an emission control system that includes an emission control device having a plurality of passages to facilitate emission control of an exhaust gas from a vehicle engine. A controller generates a control signal to initiate induction heating of the emission control device. An electromagnetic field generator responds to the control signal by generating a power signal applied to a coil to cause the induction heating of the emission control device, wherein a frequency of the power signal is adjusted to control a power transferred to the coil.

Abstract: Portable and collapsible enclosures for use in participating in online meetings, such as educational or business meetings are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, the enclosure, when erected, may generally be formed as a rectangular cube with four sides, a top and a bottom. Three sides may be completely covered by textile panels, with the fourth side having a large opening. The top side may be closed by a textile material connected to the top sides of the four side panels and extending therebetween. The enclosure may be sized to allow a participant to sit or stand therein, and the interior with the participant viewed using a camera for online meetings. The textile panels may be colored to allow a contrast for better visualization of the participant. In other embodiments, it may be constructed to allow for virtual projection of desired background images around the participant. Methods and processes for using the enclosures are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adaptive noise quantification system and associated methods are disclosed for use in the dynamic biosignal analysis of a user. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a biosignal sensor positioned and configured for obtaining and transmitting data related to a select at least one vital of the user as a biosignal, and a motion sensor positioned and configured for obtaining and transmitting data related to a motion level of the user as a motion signal. A computing device is configured for receiving and processing the biosignal and motion signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blended fuel and methods for producing the blended fuel, wherein a low carbon fuel derived from a renewable resource such as biomass, is blended with a traditional, petroleum derived fuel. A blended fuel which includes greater than 10% by volume of low carbon fuel has an overall improved lifecycle greenhouse gas content of about 5% or more compared to the petroleum derived fuel. Also, blending of the low carbon fuel to the traditional, petroleum fuel improves various engine performance characteristics of the traditional fuel.

Abstract: A toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner core containing a binder resin and a shell layer covering a surface of the toner core. The shell layers contain a branched macromolecule. The branched macromolecule includes a repeating unit having an oxazoline group. The branched macromolecule satisfies a relationship represented by rB/rL?0.80, where rB represents a radius of gyration of the branched macromolecule when an absolute molecular weight of the branched macromolecule is 40,000, and rL represents a radius of gyration of a linear macromolecule including a main chain having the same structure as a main chain of the branched macromolecule when an absolute molecular weight of the linear macromolecule is 40,000. rB and rL are each a radius of gyration measured by gel permeation chromatography using a multi-angle laser light scattering detector.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and system to provide an extended vision within an environment having a plurality of items, where the extended vision is based on a field of view of a person determined using a first visual sensor, and is further based on at least a second visual sensor disposed within the environment. Image information from the first and second visual sensors is associated to produce combined image information. Selected portions of the combined image information are displayed based on input provided through a user interface.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet which defines a fresh food storage chamber, a frozen food storage chamber, and a variable food storage chamber positioned between the fresh food storage chamber and the frozen food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance includes a wall which at least partially defines the variable food storage chamber. The wall includes an outer surface facing an ambient environment around the refrigerator appliance and an inner surface positioned opposite the outer surface. The refrigerator appliance also includes insulation extending between the outer surface of the wall and the variable food storage chamber. The insulation includes a plurality of movable segments. The movable segments are movable between a first position and a second position. A thermal conductivity of the wall is greater when the movable segments are in the second position than when the movable segments are in the first position.

Abstract: An action evaluation apparatus 10 includes: an action detection unit 11 that detects an action of a target person; an action evaluation unit 12 that determines whether or not the detected action matches a specific action set in advance; and a visual representation addition unit 13 configured to, if it is determined by the action evaluation unit 12 that the detected action matches the specific action, specify a part of the person associated with the specific action in advance and add a visual representation to the part associated with the specific action on the person or an object representing the person displayed on a screen.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing performance engineering are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of providing, to a cloud computing system that is configured to implement multiple different types of virtual computing nodes, an instruction to execute an application on a virtual computing node that is a first type of virtual computing node of the multiple different types of virtual computing nodes. The actions further include determining computing performance parameters of the virtual computing node. The actions further include determining to execute the application on both the virtual computing node and an additional virtual computing node. The actions further include selecting, from among the multiple different types of virtual computing nodes, a second type of virtual computing node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for configuring an electronic communication device are disclosed. The methods include determining that the device is operating in a loud speaker mode and a front side of the device is in proximity to a surface, thus determining that the device is in a position associated with acoustic coupling between the loud speaker and the front microphone. The methods include initiating emission of a beacon signal from the loud speaker, determining, dependent on a measured property of the beacon signal received by the front microphone, that the acoustic coupling exceeds a predetermined threshold for high acoustic coupling and, in response, configuring a rear microphone as the primary microphone for capturing audio input. The beacon signal may be an ultrasonic signal. Once the device is no longer in the position associated with acoustic coupling nor experiencing high acoustic coupling, the front microphone may be configured as the primary microphone.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a hardware processor configured to display, on a screen, a first bar corresponding to utterance of a first user of a first zone, a second bar corresponding to utterance of a second user of a second zone, and a seek bar corresponding to a zone of a sound included in audio data when the audio data is played back. The hardware processor plays back, when a first position on the seek bar is specified, audio data from a first time point corresponding to the first position.

Abstract: A speed increasing bidirectional mechanical converter, including a main shaft and a speed increasing planet gear unit is disclosed. The speed increasing planet gear unit includes a first ring gear, a planet gear, a sun gear and a planet carrier, wherein the planet gear is mounted on the planet carrier. The planet gear is arranged between the first ring gear and the sun gear, and rotates in an opposite direction against the sun gear. The speed increasing bidirectional mechanical converter further includes a reversing means, via which the first ring gear and the sun gear drive the main shaft. When in use, the planet carrier is kept still, and the main shaft rotates in the preset direction. The speed increasing bidirectional mechanical converter realizes the direction reverse by using the speed increasing planet gear unit, which simplifies the structure, facilitates the manufacture and decreases the space it occupies and its weight.

Abstract: A device obtains prescription information relating to a medication in a container. The device causes a camera device of the device to obtain image data relating to the medication and a weighing device of the device to obtain weight data relating the medication. The device sends the prescription information, the image data, and the weight data to a different device to cause the different device to verify the medication using a machine learning model. The device receives information concerning the medication and automatically generates, based on the information concerning the medication, a message concerning the medication, wherein the message includes instructions on how much of the medication a user of the device is to take. The device causes the device or an additional device to present the message.

Abstract: One-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) methods for fabricating durable crystalline transuranic-doped rare earth zirconium pyrochlores are described. Methods are fast, amenable to upscaling, and present a simple strategy for producing crystalline ceramic materials that meet the minimum attractiveness criteria for special nuclear material. The methods include analysis of reactants and reaction conditions to select proper fuel as well as proper fuel content so as to encourage formation of the crystalline product in a single-step synthesis procedure.

Abstract: A method for generating and using multi-view masters involves selecting a master in a design environment. A widget is added to the master. A first view is selected for the master. A first widget characterization of the widget is received. The first widget characterization is associated with the first view of the master. A second view of the master is selected. A second widget characterization of the widget is received. The second widget characterization is associated with the second view of the master. An instance of the master is placed in a containing context. A first instance view selection is received, the first instance view selecting the first view of the master for the first instance of the master. The first instance of the master is displayed within the containing context, the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the master.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one conveyance roller pair, an image forming unit, at least one brushless motor, a motor drive control unit, a delay amount detector, and an image formation control unit. The image formation control unit controls the motor drive control unit to convey the sheets at a predetermined timing toward the image forming unit. The image formation control unit, during a continuous image formation in which a plurality of sheets are continuously conveyed by the conveyance roller pair with a predetermined sheet spacing and images are sequentially formed on the respective sheets, controls the motor drive control unit to sequentially perform an on and off control of the brushless motor corresponding to the respective sheets, and adjusts the sheet spacing and a rise time in the on control of the brushless motor corresponding to the rotation delay amount detected by the delay amount detector.