Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a driver circuit for an optical light emitter of a ranging device, the driver circuit comprising: an inductor having a first of its nodes coupled to a current driver; a first branch comprising a first switch coupled between the second node of the inductor and a first supply voltage rail; a second branch for conducting a current through the optical light emitter, the second branch being coupled between the second node of the inductor and the first supply voltage rail; and a current sensor configured to detect the current passing through the inductor and to provide a feedback signal to the current driver.

Abstract: A fluid flow control unit adapted to control flow of fluid from a tap is disclosed. The fluid flow control unit comprises a vertical piece (101) extending along the length of the tap; and a horizontal piece (102) extending along a handle of the tap, wherein the vertical piece (101) and the horizontal piece (102) are sheet structures attached together at a predetermined angle, wherein one of sides (101a) of the vertical piece (101) is attached to one of sides (102a) of horizontal piece, and wherein a point of attachment of the vertical piece (101) and the horizontal piece is above the handle (105) of the tap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor laser including a carrier, an edge-emitting laser diode which is arranged on the carrier and which has an active zone for generating laser radiation and a facet with a radiation exit area, an optical element which covers the facet, a connecting material which is arranged between the optical element and the facet, a molded body which covers the laser diode and the optical element at least in places, wherein the optical element is at least partially transparent to the laser radiation emitted by the laser diode during operation, and the optical element is designed to change the main propagation direction of the laser radiation entering the optical element during operation.

Abstract: An optoelectronic component includes a layer structure including an active zone that generates electromagnetic radiation and is arranged in a plane, wherein the layer structure includes a top side and four side faces, first and third side faces are arranged opposite one another, second and fourth side faces are arranged opposite one another, a strip-shaped ridge structure is arranged on the top side of the layer structure and extends between the first side face and the third side face, the first side face constitutes an emission face for electromagnetic radiation, wherein a first recess is introduced into the top side of the layer structure laterally alongside the ridge structure, a second recess is introduced into the first recess, the second recess extends as far as the second side face, and at least one third recess is introduced into a base face of the first recess laterally alongside the ridge structure.

Abstract: An automatic toilet cleaning device for placement inside a cistern of a flush toilet. The device comprises at least a first and second chamber, the second chamber storing a cleaner concentrate, the first chamber formed as a tapered vault. The second chamber having a first end communicative with the first chamber and a second end enclosed by a first barrier defining a gap; a pipe extending from and sealing the gap in the first barrier forming a water channel and a buoyant actuator coupled by a tether to a stopper, the tether disposed in the water channel. In use, as the water levels in the cistern fall and rise, a dosed amount of cleaning solution is released into the cistern.

Abstract: An unpowered automatic flushing module for a flush valve having an integrated flushing opening/closing portion is proposed. The module controls time to dispose of toilet paper with feces and flushing of the feces while suctioning air from outside through a toilet paper time adjustment part when a toilet user defecates and leaves a toilet seat, and controls time to dispose of the toilet paper with urine and flushing of the urine so as to flush an amount of water for urination while rapidly suctioning the air from the outside through the toilet paper time adjustment part and a urine flushing adjustment part when the toilet user urinates and leaves the toilet seat, thereby preventing the toilet user from wasting the water by unnecessarily pressing a lever. In addition, the flushing opening/closing portion is integrated into a module of a detection switch instead of fixing to the toilet seat separately.

Abstract: A self-contained and portable/mobile waste liquid collection and storage unit is disclosed. An example embodiment includes: a self-contained and portable/mobile waste liquid collection and storage unit comprising: a waste liquid reservoir within the unit; an integrated sink with a drain; a P-trap coupled to the drain to transfer waste liquid from the sink to the waste liquid reservoir; wheels for mobility attached to a bottom of the unit; and a handle to facilitate portability of the unit.

Abstract: A powerless automatic flushing device is proposed. The device controls flushing of feces and time to dispose of toilet paper with feces while suctioning air from outside through a feces toilet paper time adjustment part and a flushing adjustment part when a toilet user defecates and leaves a toilet seat, and respectively controls the flushing of urine and time to dispose of toilet paper with urine while rapidly suctioning the air from the outside through each of a feces toilet paper time adjustment part, a flushing adjustment part, and a urine toilet paper time adjustment part when the toilet user urinates and leaves the toilet seat, thereby preventing the toilet user from wasting the water by unnecessarily pressing a lever, and a tension load spring compresses in conjunction with descending motion of the toilet seat and retains a tension load force capable of pulling a flushing wire.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for an improved shower appurtenance for bracing a shower curtain away from a user including a hanger clip configured for removable connection with a shower curtain rod and a base rod with a first end and a second end where the first end is connected with the hanger clip. A base plate assembly is connected to the second end of the base rod and an arm or a pair or arms movably connected with the base plate such that the arm or the pair of arms are moveable from an undeployed position to a deployed position where the undeployed position is approximately parallel to the base rod and the deployed position is approximately perpendicular to the base rod.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include method for sequentially mounting multiple semiconductor devices onto a substrate having a composite metal structure on both the semiconductor devices and the substrate for improved process tolerance and reduced device distances without thermal interference. The mounting process causes “selective” intermixing between the metal layers on the devices and the substrate and increases the melting point of the resulting alloy materials.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical device may include a semiconductor substrate; a mesa stripe structure that extends in a stripe shape in a first direction on the semiconductor substrate and includes a contact layer on a top layer; an adjacent layer on the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the mesa stripe structure in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a passivation film that covers at least a part of the adjacent layer; a resin layer on the passivation film; an electrode that is electrically connected to the contact layer and extends continuously from the contact layer to the resin layer; and an inorganic insulating film that extends continuously from the resin layer to the passivation film under the electrode, is spaced apart from the mesa stripe structure, and is completely interposed between the electrode and the resin layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser element includes: an n-type cladding layer disposed above an n-type semiconductor substrate (a chip-like substrate); an active layer disposed above the n-type cladding layer; and a p-type cladding layer disposed above the active layer, in which the active layer includes a well layer and a barrier layer, an energy band gap of the barrier layer is larger than an energy band gap of the n-type cladding layer, and a refractive index of the barrier layer is higher than a refractive index of the n-type cladding layer.

Abstract: A laser diode apparatus has a first waveguide layer including a gain region connected in series with a second waveguide layer with a second gain region. A tunnel junction is positioned between the first and second guide layers. A single collimator is positioned in an output path of laser beams emitted from the first and second waveguide layers. The optical beam from the single collimator may be coupled into an optical fiber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for diverting water from a shower diverter valve and distributing within an interior of a bathtub.

Abstract: An automatic system for providing full body shower with round the body cleaning to a user is illustrated. The automatic system includes a solid supporting unit with horizontal and vertical frames. A primary cleaning unit and a secondary cleaning unit are provided for the cleaning of the head portion and the body surface of a user. The first horizontal frame and the secondary cleaning unit are configured with vertical upward and downward movement along the vertical frame using an elevating means. Each of the primary and secondary cleaning units comprises a plurality of nozzles, brushes and ultraviolet (UV) light sources. An air dryer chamber propelling dry air for drying the wet body and head portion of the user is utilized. The automatic shower system can also be used in the horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A grab bar is disclosed. The grab bar includes an undulating grab portion. The undulating grab portion includes an outwardly angled section and an inwardly angled section that are connected by one or more parallel sections (i.e., one or more “plateau sections”). At one end, the grab portion includes a first mounting portion that can be connected (e.g., mounted) to a fixed surface. At its other end, the grab portion includes a second mounting portion that can be connected (e.g., mounted) to the fixed surface or any other fixed surface. The plateau section may include one or more inwardly extending subportions.

Abstract: A light source device includes: a laser diode including an emission end surface for emitting laser light and a rear end surface opposite to the emission end surface; a reflecting member that reflects a portion of the laser light emitted from the emission end surface of the laser diode; a photodetector configured to detect light that is reflected at the reflecting member; and a light-shielding member disposed between the rear end surface of the laser diode and the photodetector, the light-shielding member configured to shield at least a portion of light emitted from the rear end surface of the laser diode.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards vacuum-assisted toilet systems and methods of using the vacuum-assisted toilet systems. An example vacuum-assisted toilet system includes a toilet bowl defining an outlet and a flush valve fluidly coupled to the outlet. The vacuum-assisted toilet system also includes at least one water source fluidly coupled to the toilet bowl. The water source is configured to supply water to the toilet bowl. The vacuum-assisted toilet system also includes at least one water actuator coupled to the water source. The water actuator is configured to control the amount of water that is supplied by the water source to the toilet bowl. The vacuum-assisted toilet system also includes a controller that is configured to at least partially control the operation of one or more components of the vacuum-assisted toilet system, such as at least one of the flush valve or the water actuator.

Abstract: A frame pool includes a pool body having a space for containing liquid and a support frame for supporting the pool body. The pool body has an upper edge with a sleeve. The support frame includes an upper frame extending through the sleeve and a plurality of support members holding the upper frame in an elevated position. The upper frame includes first upper tubes, second upper tubes, and connecting tubes connecting the first upper tubes to the second upper tubes. Collars are provided within assembling ends of the first and second upper tubes. Each end of each of the connecting tubes is movably inserted into a collar located within an assembling end of a corresponding one of the upper tubes. Anti-rust coatings on the outer surfaces of the connecting tubes can be prevented from being worn and water can be sealed out of the tubes of the upper frame.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate and a slab-coupled optical waveguide (SCOW) emitter disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The SCOW emitter comprises an optical waveguide comprising: a first region doped with a first conductivity type; a second region doped with a different, second conductivity type; and an optically active region disposed between the first region and the second region. The optically active region comprises a plurality of quantum dots.