Abstract: There is described an electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle, comprising: an electrical connector electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the electrical connector adapted for connecting to a battery of the electric vehicle; a frame having a connector receiving portion for receiving the electrical connector; a locking unit mounted to the frame for preventing a user access to the electrical connector; and a control unit operatively connected to the locking unit, the control unit for verifying rights of a user to access the electrical connector and unlocking the locking unit upon successful verification of the user rights to provide the user access to the electrical connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle, the refill cartridge including compressed gas and material separated by a bi-conical thruster, the refill cartridge further comprising a first end having a material inlet and outlet manifold, and a second end having a compressed gas inlet. The system's performance can be improved by applying a surface treatment to the wetted surfaces of the system to change the physical properties at the fluid/vessel interface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic finger print authentication system that generates a three-dimensional representation of a fingerprint. High frequency sound waves are used as a medium for imaging finer details of the patterns on a fingertip, including the ridge and valley formations. Multiple frequencies and beam-forming are used to quickly map the ridges. Acoustic resonance is used to determine the depths of the intervening valleys.

Abstract: Generally described, the present application relates to systems and methods for the managing virtual machines instances using a physical computing device and an offload device. The offload device can be a separate computing device that includes computing resources (e.g., processor and memory) separate from the computing resources of the physical computing device. The offload device can be connected to the physical computing device via a interconnect interface. The interconnect interface can be a high speed, high throughput, low latency interface such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface. The offload device can be used to offload virtualization and processing of virtual components from the physical computing device, thereby increasing the computing resources available to the virtual machine instances.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the angular position of a bearing assembly and compensating measurements for bearing runout error in metrology devices, such as an articulated arm coordinate measurement device and a laser tracker, is provided. The system and method includes measuring the bearing runout error and defining a waveform from encoder readings for a first set of rotations. In one embodiment, a transfer function is created based on an analysis of the bearing runout error, such as with a Fourier analysis for example. In another embodiment the bearing runout error is mapped to an absolute angular position. During operation, the angular position of the bearing assembly is determined by comparing a waveform to the waveform from the first set of rotations. With the angular position determined, the bearing runout error may be used to compensate the measurements of the metrology device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums, consistent with principles of some embodiments of the present invention provide for remote ordering of goods within a shopping establishment including enabling selection between a plurality of counter services, receiving information relating to the selected counter service, enabling customization of the order for the selected counter service, transmitting the selection information, customization information and order identifying information to one of a plurality of remote devices to be fulfilled, and receiving completion data from the one of the plurality of remotes devices when the order is fulfilled.

Abstract: A wireless receiver automatic gain control system includes: a coarse amplification subsystem that receives and amplifies a carrier-modulated signal; a demodulator that generates a baseband signal from the amplified carrier-modulated signal; a fine amplification subsystem that amplifies the baseband signal; and a controller connected to the amplification subsystems. The controller: obtains a unified gain value for the amplification subsystems; based on the unified gain value, selects (i) one of a plurality of coarse gain values defining a set of coarse gain steps each spanning a plurality of unified gain steps, and (ii) one of a plurality of fine gain values defining a set of fine gain steps each spanning a single unified gain step; and sets (i) the gain of the coarse amplification subsystem to the selected coarse gain value, and (ii) the gain of the fine amplification subsystem to the selected fine gain value.

Abstract: A method of finding a home reference distance of a 3D coordinate measurement device in which a mathematical adjustment is made to move the vertex point to the sphere center of a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR).

Abstract: An electronically reconfigurable battery includes a number of battery modules selectively interconnected by a number of electronic switches, wherein a selectable number of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states. In a parallel configuration, the battery provides power to a primary load, such as a propulsion load for a vehicle. In a series configuration, the battery is configured to provide a high voltage and high power output to a short-term and/or pulsed load, such as an additional load provided on the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for predictive page loading. Text entered by a user into a search query form is captured. If an evaluation of the size of the captured text or identity of characters in the captured text in accordance with a confidence criteria indicates that the confidence criteria is met, a speculative search query is provided to a server. The speculative search query includes a selected suggested search term. A received plurality of speculative search results is rendered in a hidden portion of a browser window. In response to receiving a user instruction to execute a committed search query that includes the at least one selected suggested search term, at least a portion of the received plurality of speculative search results is rendered in a visible portion of the browser window.

Abstract: A timer service receives timer creation requests from clients and fires those timers upon their expiration by returning to the requesting clients payloads provided with the timer creation requests. A timer creation request includes a client identifier, a timer expiration time, and a payload. The timer service queues timer creation requests, a creation worker adds timer records to a timer store in response to requests and manages virtual partitions of the timer store, and sweeper workers, one per virtual partition, sweep timers into a second queue. A firing worker reads timer index records from the second queue, determines the timers referenced in those timer index records and executes the payloads of those timers. The timer store can be tiered, with virtual partitions different storage priorities based on the timer expirations of the timers in the virtual partitions.

Abstract: A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is provided to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, said device comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct; at least one valve connected to the peak inspiratory pressure control duct and to the positive end-expiratory pressure control duct, and at least one controller communicably connected to the valve to control rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling number of breaths per minute, and to control the duration of peak inspiratory pressure also known as inspiratory time.

Abstract: A multi-mode multi-band power amplifier and its circuits are provided. The power amplifier comprises a controller, a wide-band amplifier channel, and a fundamental impedance transformer. The controller receives an external signal and outputs a control signal according to the external signal. The wide-band amplifier channel receives a single-band or a multi-band RF signals through the input terminal, performs power amplification on the RF signals and outputs the RF signals through the output terminal. The fundamental impedance transformer comprises a first segment shared by RF signals in all bands, second segments respectively specific to RF signals in all bands, and a switching circuit controlled by the controller to separate a RF signal which is subject to power amplification to the second segment in a switchable manner for multiplexed outputs. A power amplifier output power control circuit, a gain switching circuit, and a gain attenuation circuit are also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions comprising shortened fibers of poly-N-acetylglucosamine and/or a derivative thereof (“sNAG nanofibers”) and anti-bacterial applications of such compositions. The sNAG nanofibers may be formulated into compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of bacterial infections and diseases associated with such infections. Regimens employing such compositions are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for hydration of ST-246 particles comprising exposing said particles to moisture by conveying volumes of air containing moisture.

Abstract: A laser scanner device for optically scanning and measuring an environment includes a base, a measuring head which is rotatable relative to the base, and a mirror which is rotatably relative to the measuring head, wherein, in at least one operating mode, the laser scanner is mounted on a cart by a mounting device, the cart moves the base which is fixedly connected with the mounting device, the measuring head rests relative to the base, the mirror rotates, and the measuring head is locked with the mounting device by a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A wireless fiber optic endface inspector includes a video microscope capable of wirelessly transmitting video streaming signal of endface image in real-time to a display device. The video microscope includes a microscope optical system, an adapting tip for interfacing an endface, an LED light source, a camera module for receiving and converting the endface image into video streaming signal, a Wi-Fi AP board, and a battery for supplying power. The video microscope may be constructed by adding a Wi-Fi AP board and a battery to a conventional inspector microscope. The display device has software for detecting when the endface is focused. Once the endface is focused, the display device emits an audio signal to alert the operator, who may then trigger the display device to analyze the endface image using an endface analysis software or save it to a folder, or transmit the image to a remote server.

Abstract: A pressure control assembly is provided that is coupled to a fluid regulator having a regulator body, an actuator, and an exhaust vent. The actuator includes an actuator housing, a diaphragm disposed within the actuator housing, a first chamber defined adjacent a first side of the diaphragm, and second chamber defined adjacent a second side of the diaphragm. The exhaust vent is formed in the actuator housing to fluidly couple the first chamber to the atmosphere. The pressure control assembly includes a flexible element positioned within an orifice of the exhaust vent. The flexible element is movable within the orifice in response to changes in the pressure in the second chamber.

Abstract: A power tool head is including a trimmer head or the like is powered with an AC or DC motor. The head and tool attachment are ergonomically constructed to facilitate use and operation. In the trimmer tool, molded line blades with or without an aerodynamic cross-section provide for effective cutting at low speeds and low power requirements. The line blades may be selectively oriented to improve strength and durability.

Abstract: Inbound call processing systems and methods for processing inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices employ an inbound resident call server configured to host inbound calling accounts established by non-residents, receive inbound calls from the non-residents, route the inbound calls to an authenticating server, confirm that the resident device is active, and connect the inbound resident call system with the resident device if active or inform the non-resident the resident is not available if not. The inbound resident call server also connects the non-resident inbound call with the resident device if the non-resident is associated with the inbound calling account, the inbound calling account is associated with an address identifier of the resident device and the resident's personal identification number is associated with the address identifier of the resident device, all of which may be authenticated by the authenticating server.