Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a separation claw which is provided so as to be contactable on a surface of the fixing member and comes into contact with the surface of the fixing member to separate the recording medium from the fixing member at a fixing operation and a moving mechanism which moves the separation claw in a rotational axis direction of the fixing member. The moving mechanism includes a thrust gear having a protrusion on the lower surface of the thrust gear and a thrust cam disposed below the thrust gear having a hole on the upper surface into which the protrusion can be fitted when the fixing device is assembled.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

Abstract: A memory device is described. Generally, the device includes a string of memory transistors, a source select transistor coupled to a first end of the string of memory transistor and a drain select transistor coupled to a second end of the string of memory transistor. Each memory transistor includes a gate electrode formed adjacent to a charge trapping layer and there is neither a source nor a drain junction between adjacent pairs of memory transistors or between the memory transistors and source select transistor or drain select transistor. In one embodiment, the memory transistors are spaced apart from adjacent memory transistors and the source select transistor and drain select transistor, such that channels are formed therebetween based on a gate fringing effect associated with the memory transistors. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator, which is designed to be connected to a backside of a plate like structure and which comprises an annular coil arrangement and a magnet system being designed to generate a magnetic field transverse to the annular coil arrangement. The annular coil arrangement and the magnet system are connected to each other by a plurality of springs, which are arranged inside of the annular coil arrangement. Furthermore, the invention relates to an output device, comprising a plate like structure and an electromagnetic actuator of the above kind connected to a backside of the plate like structure.

Abstract: In one aspect, compositions are described herein. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a phase change material, a hydrophobic sorption material, and a viscosity modifier. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a foam and a latent heat storage material dispersed in the foam, the latent heat storage material comprising a phase change material and a hydrophobic sorption material.

Abstract: A set-up tool for aiding vehicle sensor calibrations having a structure with a first and second vehicle contact points configured to contact a vehicle and establish a calibration axis. A substantially vertically projected flat blade laser may be placed in a position perpendicular to the calibration axis and used to align the set-up tool with a center of the vehicle. Once centered, the laser ma be transitioned to project a laser line, in coordination with a protractor having a base-line parallel to the calibration axis (which is now substantially parallel to a transverse axis of the vehicle), at a discreet angle away from the center of the vehicle. A target may then be placed along the laser line to aid in the calibration of vehicle sensors.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels, the pixels each having: a conversion element converting incident light into photoelectrons; a floating diffusion layer electrically connected to the conversion element and converting the photoelectrons into a voltage signal; a differential amplifier circuit electrically connected to the floating diffusion layer, including an amplifier transistor to which a potential of the floating diffusion layer is input, and amplifying the potential of the floating diffusion layer; a feedback transistor electrically connected to the amplifier transistor and initializing the differential amplifier circuit; a clamp capacitance connected in series between the floating diffusion layer and the amplifier transistor; and a reset transistor connected in parallel between the floating diffusion layer and the clamp capacitance and initializing the potential of the floating diffusion layer.

Abstract: A system has a collection of lidar sensors to generate lidar point cloud data for a defined geolocation. A computer is connected to the collection of lidar sensors via a network. The computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executed by the processor to process the lidar point cloud data to produce an object list for each moving object identified in the lidar point cloud data. The object list includes object classification information, object motion information, object position data, and object size data. Object motion analyses are performed on each object list to generate object motion analytics for the defined geolocation.

Abstract: In some implementations, a device may receive a request to merge a first cloud computing instance with a second cloud computing instance to generate a multi-cloud computing instance. The device may access a first application programming interface to obtain a first configuration of the first cloud computing instance. The device may access a second application programming interface to obtain a second configuration of the second cloud computing instance. The device may generate a target configuration based on the first configuration or the second configuration. The device may instantiate a set of resources with the target configuration for the multi-cloud computing instance. The device may provide output identifying the multi-cloud computing instance.

Abstract: A processing system for producing starch based expanded products useful as packing material for shipping, packaging and insulating applications. Generally, two processing steps for forming materials are involved. In a first step, dense pellets or granules are formed from starch and a plasticizing agent, such as a plasticizing polymer, for example, polyvinyl alcohol. The starch in the pellets is generally formed, for example with an extruder, into a thermoplastic or thermosetting form for further processing. The pellets generally have an individual density of at least about 70 lbs./cubic foot and a small size for convenient delivery for the second processing step. The second process step is based on the expanding of the material from an extruder with water as the expansion agent in which the dwell time in the extruder is short. The process is designed such that a less expensive single screw extruder is suitable for extruding the expanded material.

Abstract: This technology relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging system for improving the accuracy of distance measurement performed by use of SPADs. The imaging apparatus includes a pixel array section having pixel sections arrayed therein. Each pixel section includes: an SPAD (single photon avalanche photodiode); a resistance component configured to be connected serially with the SPAD; an output section configured to output a light reception signal indicating photon incidence on the SPAD; and a pulse generation section configured to output a pulse signal in synchronism with the output of the light reception signal.

Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a float tool configured to be connected to a casing string and including one or more one-way valves configured to permit fluid flow in a downhole direction and to prevent fluid flow in an uphole direction, and a first wiper plug configured to be deployed into a well via the casing string and engage the float tool. The first wiper plug comprises a valve element that is configured to prevent fluid flow through the first wiper plug at least in the uphole direction.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a first substrate on which a pixel unit is formed, and a first semiconductor substrate and a first multi-layered wiring layer are stacked, a second substrate on which a circuit having a predetermined function is formed, and a second semiconductor substrate and a second multi-layered wiring layer are stacked, and a third substrate on which a circuit having a predetermined function is formed, and a third semiconductor substrate and a third multi-layered wiring layer are stacked. The first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate are stacked in this order. A first coupling structure for electrically coupling a circuit of the first substrate and the circuit of the second substrate to each other does not include a coupling structure formed from the first substrate as a base over bonding surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A method for virtual on-demand internet connectivity for management controllers is disclosed. The method includes starting, on a management controller of a computing device connected to a management network, a management session in response to a valid login request from an authorized system administrator computer. The method includes, after startup of the management session, establishing a proxy in a browser of a device with a connection to a public network. The proxy enables the management controller to send one or more internet requests through the proxy using the connection to the public network. The method includes providing information to the system administrator computer. The provided information includes information received by the management controller in response to the one or more internet requests.

Abstract: An off-grid location lighting fixture is provided. The off-grid location lighting fixture comprises a base and a pole mounted to the base at a bottom end portion thereof. A solar panel is mounted to the pole at a top end portion thereof. An LED light is mounted to the pole. A battery is connected to the solar panel and the LED light. The battery is adapted for storing electrical energy received from the solar panel and for providing the same to the LED light. Control circuitry is connected to the solar panel, the LED light and the battery to control storage of the electrical energy and provision of the same to the LED light.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for controlling light output in a lighting system based on defined light profiles are provided. In one example implementation, a light fixture can include a first light emitting diode (LED) array having one or more LED light sources and a second LED array having one or more LED light sources. The light fixture can include a power circuit configured to provide power to the first LED array and the second LED array according to a power distribution among the first LED array and the second LED array. The light fixture can include one or more control devices configured to control the power circuit to adjust the power distribution among the first LED array and the second LED array based at least in part on a signal indicative of a real time clock and a defined light profile associated with a user identified to be present in a space illuminated by the light fixture.

Abstract: Implementations include providing, by the PKG platform, an initial knowledge graph based on user-specific data associated with a user, and a domain-specific knowledge graph, receiving, by the PKG platform, data representative of at least one answer provided from the user to a respective question, providing, by the PKG platform, an expanded knowledge graph based on the initial knowledge graph, the expanded knowledge graph including one or more nodes and respective edges based on the data, generating, by the PKG platform, a weighted knowledge graph based a groundtruth knowledge graph, and a targeted knowledge graph, the groundtruth knowledge graph including one or more true answers, and the targeted knowledge graph including the at least one answer provided from the user, and generating, by the PKG platform, the hyper-personalized knowledge graph (hpKG) based on the weighted knowledge graph, the hpKG being unique to the user within a domain.

Abstract: A surgical rib retractor has a housing and a body pivotably coupled to the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The retractor also has a first arm unit coupled to the housing and configured to atraumatically receive tissue. The first arm unit has a first arm, a first strut movable relative to the first arm in a first plane defined by the first arm, and a first frame attached to the first strut. The retractor also has a second arm unit coupled to the body and configured to atraumatically receive tissue. The second arm unit has a second arm, a second strut movable relative to the second arm in a second plane defined by the second arm, wherein the second plane is not parallel to the first plane when the body is in the closed position, and a second frame attached to the second strut.