Abstract: A system that provides adjustable actuation timing of one or more valve(s) (16) in a piston engine includes a position sensor (12) and a variable valve actuation assembly (10). The valve(s) (16) can be intake and/or exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The position sensor (12) takes position readings of the valve(s) (16) as the valve(s) (16) actuate in the piston engine. The variable valve actuation assembly (10) controls actuation timing of the valve(s) (16). Actuation timing of the valve(s) (16) is adjustable based, in part or more, upon one or more position reading(s) of the position sensor (12). The variable valve actuation assembly (10) can be a lost motion assembly (10).

Abstract: Provided is an electrolyte sensor that uses conductive elastomer electrodes. Examples of the intended analytes for sensor use include those found in urine, saliva, blood, feces, and spinal fluid, although other analytes exist for electrolyte detection. Conductive elastomer trace electrodes are separated by a channel or gap which can be bridged by an electrolyte and thereby complete an electrical circuit to an alarm or other circuitry. Channel or gap distances vary the level of electrical resistance associated with detecting certain analytes.

Abstract: A method for implementing a radiation therapy knowledge exchange starts with searching a database of cases studies and selecting a case study. The selected case study is downloaded. The downloaded case study is applied to a medical case, wherein the downloaded case is applied using deformable image registration to deform reference images of the downloaded case to medical images of the medical case. After application of the downloaded case study, the medical case is uploaded to the network, wherein uploading the medical case allows at least the submitting clinician to download, review, and edit at least a portion of the medical case to create a reviewed medical case. Finally, the reviewed medical case is downloaded and applied to the medical case to create a final medical case.

Abstract: A medication container encoding, verification and identification method is provided that includes receiving data characterizing a medication, generating an identifier encapsulating the data and applying an identifier to a medication container such that it is automatically readable by a medication device. Related apparatus, systems, methods and articles are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a KVM appliance for preventing the passing of status information between a target computer, which is in communication with the KVM appliance, and a peripheral of a user. The KVM appliance may comprise a housing, an indicator supported on the housing, and a main processing unit (MPU) for receiving status information. The MPU monitors status information received by it and determines when the received status information is of a specific type which is used to set the indicator, which in turn apprises the user of a real time status of a feature of the peripheral. When the status information is identified as being of the type to set the indicator, it is then used to set the indicator to indicate the real time status of the feature to the user of the peripheral.

Abstract: A high efficiency satellite transmitter comprises an RF amplifier chip in thermal contact with a radiant cooling element via a heat conducting element. The RF amplifier chip comprises an active layer disposed on a high thermal conductivity substrate having a thermal conductivity greater than about 1000 W/mK, maximizing heat conduction out of the RF amplifier chip and ultimately into outer space when the chip is operating within a satellite under normal transmission conditions. In one embodiment, the active layer comprises materials selected from the group consisting of GaN, InGaN, AlGaN, and InGaAlN alloys. In one embodiment, the high thermal conductivity substrate comprises synthetic diamond.

Abstract: A cover for an airbag cushion has a fabric for enclosing a folded airbag cushion forming the cover and a frangible tear seam extending across the length of the cover. The tear seam has a plurality of slits. Each slit includes a linear main slit portion arranged in a straight line, an inclined leading end slit portion and an inclined trailing end slit portion. A space between each adjacent slit forms a single fabric tear portion defined by a trailing end slit portion of one slit overlapping an inclined oppositely leading end slit portion of an adjacent slit. Each fabric tear portion is formed as short cut woven yarns cut axially and perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of fabric tear portions forms the frangible tear seam.

Abstract: Devices and methods enable optimizing a signal of interest based on identifying and analyzing the signal of interest based on radio frequency energy measurements. Signal data is compared with stored data to identify the signal of interest. Signal degradation data is calculated based on noise figure parameters, hardware parameters and environment parameters. The signal of interest is optimized based on the signal degradation data. Terrain data may also be used for optimizing the signal of interest.

Abstract: An electronic parking brake (EPB) system having expanded functionality, which provides the driver of a vehicle the option to manually control the clamping force of the EPB as desired, while keeping existing EPB functionalities. The EPB system includes a hand lever assembly, and the driver is able to move the hand lever assembly to various positions. The position of the hand lever assembly corresponds to an equivalent parking brake clamping force request. A fully retracted lever corresponds to a complete release action of the parking brake, and a fully actuated lever corresponds to a complete clamping of the parking brake. Any position in between the fully retracted and fully actuated positions corresponds to a partial apply of the parking brake using a predefined ratio of force to lever position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fuel cell tube including one or more laterally segmented fuel cells each including multiple fuel cell portions that are electrically isolated from one another. When assembled into a fuel cell stack, tube interconnects electrically connect adjacent fuel cell tubes via their respective laterally segmented fuel cells. The use of laterally segmented fuel cells to effect the fuel cell tube-to-fuel cell tube electrical connection enables more accurate testing of the electrical connection between adjacent fuel cell tubes.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a biofluid sensing device capable of passively or actively regulating an operating temperature of one or more sensors. The device includes at least one biofluid sensor in a thermally isolated environment and at least one temperature sensor to measure sensor environment temperature. Some embodiments include at least one thermal adjustor to regulate the sensor temperature by actively regulating the sensor environment temperature in response to a signal from the temperature sensor. The invention also includes a method of regulating temperature for a biofluid sensing device having a sensor for measuring an analyte in the biofluid. The method includes measuring a biofluid sensor temperature, regulating the sensor temperature to within a selected range of the measured sensor temperature, and maintaining sensor temperature within the selected range of the measured temperature throughout device operation. In some embodiments, the measured temperature is a calibration temperature.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes methods to employ wearable biosensing devices to accomplish the following: 1) screen for the presence of a disease or infection, including pre-symptomatic detection, and determination of the type (e.g., viral, bacterial, or fungal) of disease or infection present; 2) confirm the antigen and monitor the progress of an active infection; and 3) monitor the efficacy of a treatment program for a disease or infection. Such methods rely on the detection, in sweat or other biofluids, of proteins, nucleotides, DNA polymerases, proteases, group-specific antigens, antibodies, cytokines, or other molecules, that are produced by the body as part of the innate or adaptive immune responses to an infectious agent, or the infectious agent itself, its products, or derivatives. Some embodiments comprise a method of using such a biosensing device as a biosentinel against biological threats.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fuel cell tube including one or more laterally segmented fuel cells each including multiple fuel cell portions that are electrically isolated from one another. When assembled into a fuel cell stack, secondary interconnects electrically connect adjacent fuel cell tubes via their respective laterally segmented fuel cells. The use of laterally segmented fuel cells to effect the fuel cell tube-to-fuel cell tube electrical connection enables more accurate testing of the electrical connection between adjacent fuel cell tubes.

Abstract: A dosing unit having a fluid path defined therethrough and including a fluid injector having an inlet tube; an inlet cup sized and shaped for receiving therein at least part of the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the inlet cup including a fluid inlet; an input tube in fluid communication with the inlet cup via the fluid inlet thereof, the input tube configured to receive fluid from a fluid source; and an insert partly disposed in the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the insert at least partly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the input tube and the inlet tube of the fluid injector and forms part of the fluid path of the dosing unit. The fluid passage includes a portion extending in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector.

Abstract: A support ring used as part of an air spring assembly, where the support ring provides support for a top cap against radial forces applied by a clamping ring. The support ring is made of a plastic material which is less costly than a metal support ring. The plastic material is a high creep resistance plastic material, which provides increased strength and improved creep resistance, to withstand the compressive radial forces of the clamping ring. Once the support ring is formed, the top cap, which is also made of plastic, is overmolded such that a portion of the top cap is overmolded around the support ring. The high creep resistance plastic material is oriented during the injection molding process around the entire circumference of the support ring, to provide sufficient strength to withstand the radial forces from the clamping ring.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a residual life of a swivel. The method includes determining at least one of an angular rotation, a linear displacement and a rotational direction of at least one swivel and determining rotational count of the at least one swivel based on the determined at least one of the angular rotation, the linear displacement and the rotational direction of the at least one swivel. Further, the method includes indicating a residual life information of the at least one swivel based on the determined rotational count of the at least one swivel. Further, the embodiments herein also provide an electronic device for determining residual life of a swivel.

Abstract: Various devices including a three-stage switch and an infrared (IR) imaging module and methods for performing FFC using the three-stage switch and the IR imaging module are provided. The three-stage switch may have at least a first position in which the IR imaging module is powered off, a second position in which the IR imaging module is powered on and the shutter is positioned in the FOV, and a third position in which the IR imaging module is powered on and the shutter is positioned out of the FOV, wherein the second position is intermediate in relation to the first position and the third position. A thermal image of the shutter may be captured while the switch is at or adjacent to the second position, and an FFC map of FFC terms may be acquired based on the thermal image of the shutter.

Abstract: A satellite television antenna apparatus is connectable to a remotely-located set top box (STB). The satellite television antenna apparatus can include a motorized reflector dish movable in at least one of an azimuth orientation and an elevation orientation, and an antenna control system. The antenna control system can be configured to conduct two-way communication through a physical connection or a wireless connection between the satellite television antenna apparatus and the STB. The antenna control system is responsive to an indication from the STB via the communication connection that a satellite location candidate locked onto by the satellite television antenna apparatus corresponds to a subscriber's television programming package.

Abstract: Robotic systems, methods of operation of robotic systems, and storage media including processor-executable instructions are disclosed herein. The system may include a robot, at least one processor in communication with the robot, and an operator interface in communication with the robot and the at least one processor. The method may include executing a first set of autonomous robot control instructions which causes a robot to autonomously perform the at least one task in an autonomous mode, and generating a second set of autonomous robot control instructions from the first set of autonomous robot control instructions and a first set of environmental sensor data received from a senor. The second set of autonomous robot control instructions when executed causes the robot to autonomously perform the at least one task. The method may include producing at least one signal that represents the second set of autonomous robot control instructions.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for providing silicon carbide films. A layer of silicon carbide can be provided under process conditions that employ one or more silicon-containing precursors that have one or more silicon-hydrogen bonds and/or silicon-silicon bonds. The silicon-containing precursors may also have one or more silicon-oxygen bonds and/or silicon-carbon bonds. One or more radical species in a substantially low energy state can react with the silicon-containing precursors to form the silicon carbide film. The one or more radical species can be formed in a remote plasma source.