Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure provides a tote that has first and second sidewalls that define the tote's length and height and are laterally offset by the tote's width. Third and fourth substantially planar sidewalls are coupled to the first and second sidewalls to form a frame. A plurality of parallel belt guides are located within an interior space of the tote and is coupled to the frame. A belt that has at least half the tote's width is supported by the plurality of the belt guides and defines at least a portion of a ceiling of the tote. The belt is movable about the interior space of the tote, such that the aperture can be positioned within the tote in one of a plurality of positions.

Abstract: Static obstruction detection and management systems and methods through an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) include receiving UAV data from a plurality of UAVs related to static obstructions; receiving external data from one or more external sources related to the static obstructions; analyzing the UAV data and the external data to populate and manage an obstruction database of the static obstructions; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of UAVs based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method of a system and an improved boss, the boss having a longitudinally extending body with a top surface having flange forming a planar bottom surface with a fluid connection through the boss further including a liner mounting connection (LMC) on the flange bottom surface; the LMC having a groove adapted to be threadably engaged with a liner neck; and, a migration passage fluidly connecting LMC to the fluid connection of the boss.

Abstract: A gas flow valve assembly. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing and a resiliently-biased valve supported substantially centrally within the housing. In the default or “off” condition, the resilient bias causes the valve to be seated on a valve seat shutting off axial flow of gas through the valve housing. When the patient breathes, negative pressure is applied to one side of the valve effective to sufficiently overcome the resilient bias imposed on the valve to move the valve off the valve seat axially (or otherwise open in another direction) within the housing, thereby allowing flow of gas through both the valve seat and the valve housing, and into the breathing circuit connected thereto. When the patient's breathing pauses and begins to exhale, the valve bias returns the valve to its default or off condition shutting off flow of gas through the valve.

Abstract: A grain quality sensor comprising a photosite array, an illumination source, a filter, and an electronics module, wherein the illumination source directs light onto a crop sample, wherein the filter limits passage of light into different parts of the photosite array such that certain locations on the photosite array only receive certain wavelengths of light reflected or fluoresced by the crop sample, wherein an electronics module is electrically connected to the photosite array and capable of determining which parts of the photosite array received light and the wavelengths of the light received, wherein the electronics module can analyze the optical data received by the photosite array, and wherein the analysis of the optical data is used to determine the composition of the crop sample.

Abstract: A network device may include various cards and modules, such as management modules, line cards, and switch fabric modules. In various implementations, these components can be “hot-plugged” meaning that the components can be inserted into and removed from the network device while the network device is powered on. In various implementations, hardware in the network device can identify when a component has been added. The hardware can notify a virtual machine, which can then notify the host operating system. The host operating system can added the component, and then notify the virtual machine to also add the component. Once the virtual machine has added the component, the component becomes available for use by processes executing on the virtual machine.

Abstract: A system and method for the on-site separating and treating of a hydrocarbon liquid stream at an oil and gas production site is disclosed. The system comprises an oil and condensate distillation unit and a vapor recovery unit. In one embodiment, the oil and condensate distillation unit operates at low pressure or vacuum conditions to reduce the vapor pressure above the column of oil within a distillation column, thereby increasing the production of oil and condensate and capturing entrained natural gas otherwise lost or burned off. In another embodiment, oil from the distillation column can be measured by a flow meter and then transferred to one or more of an oil tank, a mobile tank, and an oil pipeline. Optionally, produced water at the production site can be run through the oil and condensate distillation unit to reduce the volume of produced water.

Abstract: Improved materials and compositions for improving materials to enhance their properties; the compositions, in certain aspects, strengthening materials, enhancing bonding between materials, and/or improving properties such as strength, impact resistance, sustainability, protection level, and structural integrity; the material in certain aspects being glass; the compositions including alcohol, glycerol, a silane, acetate adhesive, a surfactant, and carbon nanotubes; and, optionally in certain aspects, no nanotubes and/or no surfactants but with a vinyl acetate monomer. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: The restroom stall occupancy indicator system includes a latch coupled to a stall door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A sensor is responsive to selected positioning of the latch and communications the position information to a transmitter. The transmitter then relays the position information to a receiver coupled to an indicator. The indicator, in turn, is responsive to the received position information to provide a first visual identification when the latch is in the unlocked position and a second visual identification when the latch is in the locked position.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an image based vehicle detection and measuring apparatus that employs an accelerated, structured, search method is described for quickly finding the extrema of a multivariable function. The input domain of the function is determined. The method exploits information as it becomes available, calculating a best possible value with the information available so far, and terminating further evaluation when the best possible value does not exceed the extreme value found so far. Ordering and best guess schemes are added to the best possible value idea to accelerate it further. The method is applied to speed up an image processing problem, an example of which is given, but has general application, for example, in fields such as vehicle detection.

Abstract: A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.

Abstract: A method of operating an RF system, the method including controlling coupling and uncoupling of RF ports included in an M by N radio frequency (RF) switch matrix including N first-side RF ports and M second-side RF ports, wherein each of the first-side RF ports may be selectively coupled to at least one of two or more of the second-side RF ports, such that RF signals are carried between selectively coupled ports; identifying one or more of the second-side RF ports as active ports, the active ports including a first active port; causing the RF switch matrix to couple the first active port to a first signal port included in the first-side RF ports; obtaining a first indication of reduced performance for a first piece of RF communication equipment coupled to the first active port; and causing, in response to the first indication, the RF switch matrix to couple the first signal port to a first spare port, wherein the first spare port is included in the second-side RF ports and is not included in the active ports.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods acquire individual frames of a portion of a scene under a variety of different operating parameters. Example apparatus and methods then piece together strips of frames from the individual frames. Example apparatus and methods then produce a panoramic image from the strips of frames. Frames are acquired using different imaging parameters (e.g., focal length, pan position, tilt position) under different imaging conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, pan rate, tilt rate). The frames may be acquired by cameras located in a panoramic view image system and in a drone. The drone may provide imagery or data. The imagery or data may be used to update or enhance the panoramic image by, for example, displaying imagery of a blind spot in the panoramic image. In different embodiments, drones may be detected or controlled.

Abstract: An electronic controller includes a first electrical input, receiving electrical power of a first voltage for powering the electronic controller, and a second electrical input, receiving an electrical power line communication signal at a second voltage. The second voltage is different than the first voltage. The power line communication signal is received from a second electronic controller that is powered by electrical power of the second voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for synchronizing the operation of a first shutter of a first camera with the operation of a second shutter of a second camera without a physical tether between the first and second cameras. The method includes: receiving a global positioning system (GPS) pulse-per-second (PPS) signal at the first and second cameras; and in response to a unique timing pulse in the PPS signal, simultaneously actuating the first and second shutters.

Abstract: A multimode system for receiving data in a retail environment includes: a secure input module for receiving high security input and low security input from a customer, the high security input to be communicated by the secure input module in cipher text, and the low security input to be communicated by the secure input module in plaintext. The multimode system is adapted to operate in a high security mode and a low security mode. The multimode system is adapted to enter the low security mode upon detection by the multimode system of a security breach condition. In the high security mode, the secure input module accepts low security input and high security input. In the low security mode, the secure input module accepts the low security input and does not accept the high security input.

Abstract: Feedwater and saltwater used in desalination plants, oil field installations, and large data centers can be treated to reduce scale, biological contaminants, and biologically induced corrosion therein by the integration of different treatment mechanisms.

Abstract: A localized fire protection system for composite overwrapped pressure vessels which uses net or mesh which stretches in at least one direction. They can be elastomeric or polymeric or any material and/or weave that provides said function. Wrapping sections held together via a flammable fuse connected to a relief valve under pressure from the net wrappings to block a relief valve pathway to replace stored gas in case of a localized fire.

Abstract: A method of operating a video camera includes capturing a scene of imaging data using a focal plane array (FPA) module of the video camera. The scene of imaging data is characterized by a first bit depth. The method also includes processing, using an image processing module coupled to the FPA module, the scene of imaging data to provide display data characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth. The method further includes forming a super frame including the display data and the scene of imaging data and outputting the super frame.