Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for a fluid line includes a female connector body defining a through bore, a tubular male member with a raised annular upset, and a retainer demountably coupled to the connector body. A seal assembly provides a fluid tight seal between the tube and body bore. A separate outer spacer is secured to the body to receive axial load of the seal assembly. The body defines spaced arcuate locking ledges having axially inward facing radial locking surfaces. The outer spacer is a continuous annular element includes an integral radial ring defining an annular axially outward facing radial abutment surface in radial abutting relation to the locking surfaces of said body ledges.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasound treatment of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.

Abstract: Fiber optic cable assemblies and related components, securing methods, and fiber optic cable preparation methods for securing of a fiber optic cable to a retention body and/or fiber optic connector are disclosed. An end portion of the fiber optic cable is prepared and inserted into a retention body or the like for securing the cable to the same. In one embodiment, a partially exposed portion of a strength component and a portion of a cable jacket are secured to a retention body while another portion of the strength component remains secured to the cable jacket. In this manner, the fiber optic cable is secured to the retention body while the strength component and the cable jacket also remain secured to each other for providing strain relief.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for generating hydrogen gas at pressures high enough to fill a hydrogen storage cylinder for stationary and transportation applications. The hydrogen output of an electrochemical hydrogen gas generating device, a hydrogen-producing reactor, or a diluted hydrogen stream is integrated with an electrochemical hydrogen compressor operating in a high-differential-pressure mode. The compressor brings the hydrogen produced by the hydrogen generating device to the high pressure required to fill the storage cylinder.

Abstract: Providing rewards to a user by storing a user profile in memory of a computing device, the user profile including profile data including prior purchase history by the user including details of a plurality of transactions that have been previously executed by the user. The profile data is analyzed in accordance with a scoring algorithm to provide a score that is indicative of the relative value of the user, and the user is provided with a reward in accordance with the user's score as indicated by the scoring algorithm. The reward provided to the user may be a coupon, a rebate, a discount or reward points.

Abstract: A clip for securing one or more fiber optic cable assemblies having respective furcation bodies is disclosed along with related assemblies. The clip includes one or more attachment features disposed on a bottom surface for mounting the clip. The bottom surface of the clip provides an anti-rotation feature for the clip and the fiber optic cable assembly by abutting with the complementary mounting surface. In one embodiment, the clip has a cover that attaches to a portion of the clip for securing a portion of the furcation plug within a cavity of the clip.

Abstract: A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected.

Abstract: A system for verification of dispensed pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a bar code scanning station mounted on the housing; a vision station mounted on the housing; a spectroscopy station mounted on the housing; an offloading station mounted on the housing; one or more conveyors mounted on the housing to convey pharmaceutical vials between the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations, and a controller associated with the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations and the conveyors to control their operations. A system of this configuration can use both vision and spectroscopy to verify the identity of the pharmaceutical in the container.

Abstract: A cable bolt assembly incorporating a head that distributes loads and minimizes the risk of potential failure caused by cable bolt head protrusion through the load bearing plate due to plate deformation. A flush seat cable bolt head includes a tapered nose portion, a flush seating portion that acts to distribute loads and a head portion of any geometrical consideration, either external or internal that is used to drive the head.

Abstract: A mixing block to supply a throttle-able hydrogen and air mixture to an internal combustion engine includes a bore through the mixing block between an air intake side and an engine intake side. A slider chamber is disposed orthogonal to and intersecting the bore, where the slider chamber houses a movable slider biased to at least partially block the bore but throttle-able to overcome the bias and reduce blockage of the bore. A jet chamber is disposed parallel to and intersecting the slider chamber and extending away from the slider chamber a distance sufficient to accommodate a shaped needle, where the needle is connected to the slider on one side such that the needle moves within the jet chamber as the slider moves in the slider chamber.

Abstract: A removable sensor housing for connection to a structure in a fluid system such as a quick connector body. The sensor housing removably attaches to a mating portion on the other structure. It includes a shaft inserted in a bore on the other structure with an interposed seal. An attachment mechanism is used to secure the sensor housing to the structure. Alternative mechanisms are disclosed. In certain forms, the sensor housing is configured to be positioned in fixed relation to the other structure.

Abstract: An RFID tag having a non-volatile memory and a piezoelectric sensor. The piezoelectric sensor produces an electrical charge that momentarily supplies electrical power to the RFID tag when subjected to a mechanical force and the electrical power is sufficient to record data in the non-volatile memory. The piezoelectric sensor is affixed to an article such that an attempt to tamper with the article produces sufficient mechanical force on the piezoelectric sensor to record data evidencing the tampering in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake system for a heavy duty vehicle is provided. The work brake system is operably dependent on a predetermined high trip brake system pressure and a predetermined reset brake system pressure. Upon actuation of the work brake system, when brake system pressure is greater than the predetermined high trip pressure, the work brake system is configured to deliver a pneumatic control signal to the second control valve to activate the service brake assembly. When brake system pressure is less than the predetermined high trip pressure, the work brake system is configured to deliver a pneumatic spring brake signal to the first control valve to activate the spring brake assembly and remove the pneumatic control signal to the second control valve. The delivery of the pneumatic control signal to the second control valve via the work brake system is prevented until brake system pressure exceeds the predetermined reset pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for wireless monitoring of exercise, fitness, or nutrition by connecting a web-enabled wireless phone to a device which provides exercise-related information, including physiological data and data indicating an amount of exercise performed. The connection may be by way of a wireless connection using protocols such as Bluetooth® or 802.11, or by way of a wired connection. An optional adaptor may be included if necessary. An application for receiving the exercise-related information and providing a user interface may be downloaded to the web-enabled wireless phone from an internet server. The exercise-related information may be transmitted to an internet server, and the server may calculate and return a response.

Abstract: A method of optimal focusing for a document scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes an optic module movable in a given scanning direction to perform scanning operation over an area of a document in a scan line by scan line manner by being driven by an optic module moving mechanism under control of a control unit. The control unit includes a best focus value memory for storage of the best focus value for each scan line. The method includes the steps of moving the optic module to one of scan lines of the document and retrieving the best focus value corresponding to the selected scan line. A focus adjusting mechanism is controlled by the control unit to move the optic module in a second direction to adjust the focus position of the optic module in accordance with the best focus value of the scan line. Once the optic module reaches the scan line, the operation of the optic module is temporarily suspended in order to have the vibration of the optic module damped out.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods of designing an integrated circuit (IC). One embodiment of one such method includes: (1) generating a functional design for the IC, (2) determining performance objectives for the IC, (3) determining an optimization target voltage for the IC, (4) determining whether the IC needs voltage scaling to achieve the performance objectives at the optimization target voltage and, if so, whether the IC is to employ static voltage scaling or adaptive voltage scaling, (5) using the optimization target voltage to synthesize a layout from the functional IC design that meets the performance objectives by employing a unitless performance/power quantifier as a metric to gauge a degree of optimization thereof and (6) performing a timing signoff of the layout at the optimization target voltage.

Abstract: An optically-switched fiber optic communication system, such as a Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) based optical fiber link system, may be used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system may include a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank. Fiber optic cables comprising optical fibers optically couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The optical switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas can communicate with each other over the optical fibers through the HEU. By using the optically-switched fiber optic communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate.

Abstract: A method of irradiating a target tissue in a patient comprising positioning the patient on a patient support system so that the target tissue in the patient is within irradiating distance of at least one source of a beam of radiation and moving the patient support system relative to the at least one source of a beam of radiation and, coordinately with movement of the patient support system, rotating the at least one source of radiation relative to the target tissue, which comprises and/or is adjacent to a non-target tissue, so that the center of rotation of the beam of radiation is placed at one or more desired locations within the target tissue, while simultaneously and/or sequentially irradiating the target tissue; a collimator; a method of making such a collimator; a system for irradiating a target tissue in a patient; and a method of planning irradiation of a target tissue in a patient.