Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, a high-voltage board and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a first connecting member, a first holding member, a coupling member and a second connecting member. The first connecting member includes a first spring terminal. The first spring terminal includes a first large diameter part and a first small diameter part. The first holding member has a first contact part coming into contact with an end part of the first small diameter part at a side of the first large diameter part in a state where the first holding member is coupled with the coupling member. The coupling member has a second contact part coming into contact with an end part of the first large diameter part at a side of the first small diameter part in the state where the first holding member is coupled with the coupling member.

Abstract: A method of transmission in a communications network is provided in which data is transmitted using a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. The method includes providing an anchor carrier associated only with the first radio access technology and another carrier shared between the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology. Transmission via the second radio access technology is muted in the shared carrier during at least one subframe of each data frame transmitted using the second radio access technology. Data is transmitted using the first radio access technology in the shared carrier only during the at least one subframe in which transmission using the second radio access technology is muted.

Abstract: An automation technology, autarkic, field device, which is connected via two connecting terminals to an I/O module. The I/O module is embodied as a 4-20 mA/HART I/O module. The I/O module is associated with a controllable energy source via which the field device is supplied with energy. An electrical current measuring unit is provided which ascertains the electrical current supplied by the energy source. In the I/O module, internal resistors are provided, across which occurs in each case a voltage drop dependent on the flowing electrical current. A control unit is provided, which operates the energy source in such a way that a predetermined terminal voltage is supplied on the connecting terminals for powering the field device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for an ion generation device that includes an elongate housing having a back portion and a pair of side portions extending from the back portion and forming a cavity therein. A conductive portion is disposed within the cavity and connected to a power supply for providing power to the conductive portion. A plurality of tines are engaged to the conductive portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage regulator includes monitoring an output current and an inductance of an output inductor in a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator includes high-side and low-side field effect transistors both coupled to an input to the first output inductor. The high-side and low-side field-effect transistors are alternately turned on at a switching frequency, wherein only one of the field-effect transistors is turned on at a time. The method measures a change in the inductance of the output inductor resulting from the output inductor reaching current saturation and measures a rate of change in the output current of the output inductor. The switching frequency is controlled as a function of the measured change in the inductance and the measured rate of change in the output current in order to prevent an amount of current through the high-side field-effect transistor from exceeding a maximum operating current setpoint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer section, a transfer bias applying section, a conveyance section, an element, a current measurement section, and a control section. The transfer section forms, in conjunction with the image bearing member, a pressing part where a recording medium is pressed. The transfer bias applying section supplies transfer current to the transfer section to apply a transfer bias to the transfer section. The element conducts when a voltage equal to or greater than a prescribed value is applied thereto. The current measurement section measures a value of leak current. The leak current is a current flowing through the element. The control section controls a value of the transfer current. The control section changes the absolute value of the transfer current based on the absolute value of the leak current.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for operating a water heating assembly of the same are provided. The method includes operating a heating element of the water heating assembly to generate heated water. To dispense the heated water, an air valve of the water heating assembly is closed and an air pump of the water heating assembly is worked. In such a manner, heated water can be dispensed accurately and/or precisely.

Abstract: A system and method for managing and controlling charging of electric vehicles via charging stations over an advanced metering infrastructure is provided. Smart meters are deployed in the charging stations. Electric vehicle clusters which are logical representations of at least the charging stations are created. Policies for controlling electric vehicle charging based on data obtained using the electric vehicle clusters are generated. Further, it is analyzed if meter data obtained from the smart meters using the electric vehicle clusters comply with the generated policies. The meter data is obtained using the electric vehicle clusters identified with electric vehicle charging events. Policy violation action data is generated by applying predetermined rules if it is determined that the policies are violated. The policy violation action data is then sent to the identified electric vehicle clusters for controlling electric vehicle charging.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically drying wet floors includes a controller, a moisture detector that is operable to detect the presence of moisture at a first location and transmit a moisture detection signal to the controller in response to detecting the presence of moisture at the first location, and a blower. The blower is operative to turn on and off for drying the wet floors by directing moving air toward the first location in response to an operating signal from the controller. The controller outputs the operating signal to the blower based on the moisture detection signal.

Abstract: In a fixing device, on a receiving surface of a separating plate provided at a downstream side of a nip part formed between the fixing roller and the pressing roller, a catch part is formed in an edge part facing the nip part. When a direction of a sheet ejected from the nip part comes close to the fixing roller, a front end part of the sheet is caught by the catch part, and the sheet is largely bent or leaps up. A position detector detects the bending or leaping up of the sheet and recognizes that the direction of the sheet ejected from the nip part comes close to the fixing roller. The controller decreases force for pressing the fixing roller and the pressing roller or a fixing temperature, whereby the direction of the sheet ejected from the nip part is deviated from the fixing roller.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for use and processing of patient geolocation data in order to objectively determine a patient's territory as an artificially created digital biomarker while maintaining locational privacy. The objective determination of a patient's territory, defined as the area traversed in a specific time interval, can be used as a measurement of quality of life, as well as socio-economic contribution and benefit. Devices and methods are also disclosed for creating an artificial Overall Territory Activity Digital Biomarker based on Patient Activity Factors in addition to the Patient Territory Digital Biomarker, and which Overall Territory Activity Digital Biomarker also maintains locational data privacy. Furthermore, devices and methods are disclosed for capturing and transmitting digital biospecimens, the transformed geolocation data used to determine the Patient Territory Digital Biomarker.

Abstract: Communicating is disclosed. A first communication associated with a first mechanism for configuring a pseudo-wire is received. The first communication is transformed into a second communication, where the second communication is associated with a second mechanism for configuring a pseudo-wire. The second communication is transmitted, where a pseudo-wire that is configured using the second communication is associated with (1) a first node that is configured to support the first mechanism and (2) a second node that is configured to support the second mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods related to metallization of semiconductors. A metalized structure can include a stack disposed over a compound semiconductor, with the stack including a barrier, a copper (Cu) layer disposed over the barrier, and a first titanium (Ti) layer disposed over the Cu layer. The metalized structure can further include a sputtered titanium tungsten (TiW) layer disposed over the first Ti layer. The barrier can include an assembly of titanium nitride (TiN) and Ti layers. The metalized structure can further include a second Ti layer disposed over the sputtered TiW layer.

Abstract: Presented are a system and methods for automatically extracting, analyzing and visualizing conversational turn-taking patterns during co-located and remote social interactions. The visualization tool measures group conversation dynamics based on wirelessly or otherwise obtained electronic sensor data corresponding to each participant. The group conversation dynamics that are determined (or detected) include, per participant, turn duration, turn-taking speed, number of turns, number of overlapping turns, number of successful interruptions and number of unsuccessful interruptions. Also calculated are participant mirroring statistics, activity statistics, consistency statistics, influence statistics and social network statistics. The visualizations may be output with user configurable parameters.

Abstract: Timing pick-off is provided in time-of-flight positron emission using digital output photo sensors (e.g., SPAD or dSiPM). The timing-to-digital converter (TDC) is replaced for timing detection with a mixed analog and digital timing pick-off (MTP) where a processor determines the timing from an output of the MTP. The digital SPAD or dSiPM output is summed into an analog waveform, allowing for triggering based on signal statistics or other than at a particular number of discrete detections. The trigger is used by the processor to extrapolate the time of occurrence without an integrated TDC.

Abstract: A system orders acquisition of frequency domain components representing MR image data for storage in a storage array (e.g., k-space). A storage array of individual data elements stores corresponding individual frequency components comprising an MR dataset. The array of individual data elements has a designated center and individual data elements individually have a radius to the designated center. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in the storage array. The individual frequency components are successively acquired in an order in which radius of respective corresponding individual data elements increases and decreases as the multiple individual frequency components are sequentially acquired during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scalable frame alignment in a high data-rate communications system. OTUk/ODUk frame alignment uses serial processing of a match vector, or serial processing of received OTUk/ODUk bytes to reduce the footprint occupied by the processing logic.