Abstract: A hydronic distribution system includes self-regulating valves networked together and operable to share valve temperature and valve position information with a microprocessor or other type of controller. The microprocessor runs one or more algorithms that process the temperatures and positions of the valves and then computes a desired speed for one or more variable speed pumps within the system. Controlling the pumps to operate at the desired speed and still maintain the correct amount of process fluid flow needed by the system reduces the overall energy use of the hydronic distribution system, saves on the operational lives of the pumps, and increases system efficiency.

Abstract: A method for using an electronic device to activate amass production software tool to initialize a memory device including a flash memory controller and a flash memory includes: using the mass production software tool to retrieve an encrypted configuration file included by the mass production software tool; decrypting the encrypted configuration file to generate a temporarily decrypted configuration file; comparing unique information of the electronic device with unique information recorded in the temporarily decrypted configuration file to determine whether the electronic device is valid/authorized; and performing a flash memory initialization operation upon the flash memory when the electronic device is valid/authorized.

Abstract: Methods and systems according to the invention may be used to modify a manufacturing plan for an object manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. A digital representation of a desired object and a manufacturing plan may be compared to manufacturing information generated via an evaluation of such an object. Based on that comparison, the manufacturing plan may be modified so that that object or a subsequent object is highly similar to the desired object.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil moisture sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. Additionally, systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting depth based on the monitored soil properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configured to reduce power consumption of a physical (PHY) interface of a digital memory device. In some configurations, the PHY interface is configured to modulate electrical characteristics of a transmitter and/or receiver on the PHY interface according to an idle state of one or more of the digital memory device or a host computing system.

Abstract: A method for producing a scaled-up solid model of microscopic features of a selected surface of an article, such as a piece of metal exposed to friction. The metal surface is scanned with a profilometer along X, Y, and Z coordinates to obtain measurements of microscopic surface features. A 3-D high resolution spatial map of the microscopic surface features is made, and the X, Y, and Z measurements are scaled up. The spatial map is converted into a high resolution 3-D scaled-up computer model. The Z measurement in the 3-D scaled up computer model is scaled up 3 to 20 times more than the amount used to scale up the X and Y measurements to increase the depth of the 3-D scaled up computer model. A data set of printing instructions is created from the 3-D scaled-up computer model, a solid scaled-up model of the selected surface is manufactured in the 3-D printer, and the surface of the scaled-up model is colored to match the metal surface.

Abstract: A control system for a cooking appliance having gas burners is configured to control a speed of one or more cooling fans of the appliance based on information sensed about a position and/or motion of a knob associated with one of the gas burners. The information about the knob position and/or motion may be determined by a rotary monitor and/or any other suitable sensor. In some examples, the control system is further configured to control a gas valve coupled to the burner based on the sensed information about the knob.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for identifying a power state to be provided with an integrated circuit (IC). In an embodiment, evaluator circuitry of a system-on-chip is programmable based on multiple criteria which are each for a different respective power mode. Programming of the evaluator circuitry enables concurrent evaluations each to determine, for a different respective power mode, whether a detected state of the IC is able to accommodate said power mode. Results of the evaluations are communicated, in parallel with each other, to circuitry which selects one such power mode based on relative priorities of the power modes with respect to each other. In another embodiment, the evaluator circuitry comprises an array of circuit cells which are configurable each to perform a different respective evaluation based on a corresponding combination of a test condition and a detected condition of the IC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An application runs at a first operating frequency if the application is designed for a current version of a system and runs at a second operating frequency if the application is designed for a prior version of the system that operates at a lower frequency than the first operating frequency. The second operating frequency may be higher than the operating frequency of the prior version of the system to account for differences in latency, throughput or other processing characteristics between the two systems. Software readable cycle counters are based on a spoof clock running at the operating frequency of the prior version of the system, rather than the true operating frequency. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.

Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.

Abstract: A region-based electrical intelligence system is used to configure and control electrical usage within regions, for example, within certain areas of a floor of a building or within certain floors of a building. A number of network-enabled electric plugs are deployed in a region. Each of the network-enabled electric plugs is configured to deliver electricity from an electricity source to one or more powered devices located in the region. A server runs a web application used to monitor electrical usage information for the region based on electrical usage by each of the one or more powered devices. The web application generates rules for selectively controlling the delivery of electricity from the network-enabled electric plugs to the powered devices based on the monitored electrical usage information.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a variable output micro-grid frequency in order to cause loads and producers coupled to a micro-grid to change operating modes/behaviors accordingly. For example, the utility frequency delivered via the micro-grid may be used as a control signal for the purposes of demand response, e.g., increasing or decreasing load, energy storage control, e.g., to cause storage of energy or the discharging of energy, and generator output curtailment as is mandated by generator interconnection standards such as UL1741 for output power curtailment under high frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat suppression in an initial setting mode includes, in one embodiment, an execution unit of an information processing device that executes an operation related to an initial setting mode of the information processing device, a power supply that supplies power to one or more heat generating components of the execution unit, and a controller that controls at least the power supplied by the power supply to make an amount of heat generation of the execution unit in the initial setting mode lower than the amount of heat generation of the execution unit in an operating mode after termination of the initial setting mode until fulfillment of a predetermined condition. A method and a computer program product also perform functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: One embodiment includes hardware logic to: receive first and second communications corresponding to an intellectual property (IP) core and begin a timed session in response to receiving the second communication; determine the firmware has completed processing the second communication before expiration of the timed session and increase a latency state corresponding to a resource in response to determining the firmware has completed processing the second communication before expiration of the timed session; receive a third communication corresponding to the IP core and begin an additional timed session in response to receiving the third communication; determine the firmware failed to complete processing the third communication before expiration of the additional timed session and decrease the latency state corresponding to the resource in response to determining the firmware failed to complete processing the third communication before expiration of the additional timed session.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure are directed to methods of managing power of various modules of an electronic device to prevent the voltage of the battery from falling to an undervoltage lockout (UVLO) threshold. In some examples, software operating on the electronic device or an associated electronic device (e.g., a paired electronic device) may assign power budgets to one or more modules, thereby preventing each module from drawing its maximum current capacity and causing the battery's voltage level to fall to the UVLO threshold. In some examples, a pre-UVLO threshold (i.e., a threshold higher than the UVLO threshold) may be used to modify the states of one or more modules to save power as the voltage of the battery approaches the UVLO threshold, but before the device must be fully powered off.

Abstract: Embodiments apply user-specific usage patterns to estimate and preserve remaining battery life on a computing device. An amount of battery drain and an execution context are determined and stored for a plurality of recurring time periods. The execution context identifies operations executed by the computing device, signal strength, and other data describing the associated time period. If one of the operations is expected to be executed during a recurrence of at least one of the time periods, the expected execution is adjusted based on execution context and an estimated remaining battery life for the computing device. For example, the computing device may postpone or reschedule the operation for a time period during which the operation is expected to have a greater likelihood of completing successfully. In some embodiments, the battery preservation operations are automatically enabled at a particular threshold.

Abstract: A non-volatile storage device comprises non-volatile memory cells, clocked circuity, and one or more control circuits. The one or more control circuits are configured to process commands to access the non-volatile memory cells using the clocked circuity, implement a power control loop to regulate power consumption of the non-volatile storage device based on a first feedback signal, implement a temperature control loop to regulate temperature of the non-volatile storage device based on a second feedback signal, and implement a clock frequency control loop to regulate one or more clock frequencies of the clocked circuitry based on a third feedback signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for improving configuration of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In some embodiments, a control system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes control circuitry and memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the control circuitry, causes the control circuitry to control air flow supplied to a first building zone by the HVAC system based on a temperature setpoint schedule associated with the first building zone; and control air flow supplied to a second building zone by the HVAC system based on a constant temperature setpoint associated with the second building zone.