Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for digitally controlling an oxygen sensor. The apparatus comprises a computer and digital circuitry coupled to the oxygen sensor to convey information between the oxygen sensor and the computer. The oxygen sensor includes a pump cell and at least one Nernst cell configured to indicate the difference in oxygen content in a test medium relative to a reference medium. A pump control circuit operates the pump cell according to signals received from the computer based on output signals from the Nernst cell. A reference voltage circuit enables the computer to determine impedances of the oxygen sensor as a function of sensor temperature and pressure. A Nernst read circuit transmits output signals from the oxygen sensor digitally to the computer. Digital signals received by the computer are compared with stored reference information so as to determine the oxygen content of the test medium.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide heat, electricity, or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A voltage booster system for use, for example, in an electric vehicle places a switched capacitor voltage converter between a high voltage battery and the vehicle's electrical load, typically a traction power inverter for driving the vehicle's electric motor. The battery input to the converter is pulsed to couple a charging voltage to the converter while the converter is disconnected from the load. The converter is then coupled to the load during the period that the pulse input is disconnected.

Abstract: An image duplication prevention apparatus comprising: image duplication prevention means for, when a determining means of the image duplication prevention apparatus determines that a subset of metadata of an image to be transferred from a first location to a second location is identical to a corresponding subset of metadata of any image already stored at the second location, preventing the transfer of the image from the first location to the second location. The image duplication prevention means is further for, when the determining means determines that the subset of metadata of the image to be transferred is not identical to the corresponding subset of metadata of the any image already stored at the second location, allowing the transfer of the image from the first location to the second location.

Abstract: System, methods and computer program products for creating and maintaining an address book are described. The address book may collect or update its existing contact information from sent or received communications. Contact information associated with the existing contacts also may be collected (or updated based on information received) from outside sources (e.g., external to an application hosting or accessing the address book). The address book may intelligently combine profile data from various sources to enrich the existing records associated with the contacts.

Abstract: The ENCRYPTION-FREE CONTENT PURCHASE PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“ECPP”) transform content seed selections and recommendations via ECPP components such as discovery and social influence into events and discovery of other contents for users and revenue for right-holders. In one embodiment, the ECPP may obtain from a user of a universally resolvable media content (“URMC”) service a request to purchase an unlocked URMC item. The ECPP may obtain the user's social influence metric in the service and a purchase price associated with the URMC content item. The ECPP may further determine, based on the user's social influence metric, a discount and provide the user an option to purchase the URMC content item at a purchase price reduced by the discount. The ECPP may receive from the user an indication and an authorization to purchase the URMC item, and in response, may charge an account associated with the user the purchase price reduced by the discount.

Abstract: Method of forming multi-gate finFETs with epitaxially-grown merged source/drains. Embodiments of the invention may include forming a plurality of semiconductor fins joined by a plurality of inter-fin semiconductor regions, depositing a sacrificial gate over a center portion of each of the plurality of fins, forming a first merge layer over a first end of each of the plurality of fins to form a first merged fin region, forming a second merge layer over the second end of each of the plurality of fins to form a second merged fin region, etching a portion of the first merged fin region to form a first source/drain base region, etching a portion of the second merged fin region to form a second source/drain base region, forming a first source/drain region on the first source/drain base region, and forming a second source/drain region on the second source/drain base region.

Abstract: Arrow rest arrangements according to certain embodiments include an elongate arm mounted to extend into and rotate in the plane of an arrow aligned with an archery bow and riser. The arm can rotate from an open position, for example where the arm is substantially perpendicular to the arrow shaft, to a closed position where the arm engages and may be substantially aligned with the arrow shaft. The arm preferably includes two opposing end portions to engage, constrain and align the arrow shaft in the closed position, yet which drop or rotate away from the shaft upon release of the arrow to allow the arrow to freely leave the bow.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for variable flow rate fuel ejection are disclosed. A variable flow rate ejector comprises primary and secondary inlets, primary and secondary nozzles, and a needle. The primary nozzle is connected to receive a first fluid from the first inlet chamber and transmit the first fluid through a primary nozzle opening. The needle is disposed within the primary nozzle opening and is axially movable to vary an area of primary nozzle opening. The primary nozzle opening and the needle are sized to make the flow of the first fluid have a supersonic speed. The secondary inlet opens into a second inlet chamber positioned outside the primary nozzle to opening. A portion of the second fluid is entrained in the flow of the first fluid from the primary nozzle. The secondary nozzle opening is sized to make the flow of the first and second fluids have a subsonic speed.

Abstract: An electrical contactor for use in a high voltage bus utilizes two capacitor plates and a dielectric element movable in a gap between the plates under a charging voltage applied to the plates. The dielectric element is biased to a contactor off, or open, position by a biasing element, such as a spring. Once activated, the contactor remains closed under the influence of the charging voltage across the capacitor plates, yet does not draw a current during this state. The contactor may be released by a controllable discharge circuit placed across the capacitor plates.

Abstract: A phased array ultrasonic probe may be mounted to a component to be inspected for wall thickness on an apparatus that includes a split ring adapted to be magnetically held in place on the component. In particular, the probe may be mounted to a carriage connected to the split ring in a manner that allows the carriage to rotate around the split ring while the probe is in operation. Between the probe and the component, a transducer shoe defining, by a flexible membrane, a cavity and an aperture. Conveniently, the construction of the flexible membrane allows wall thickness measurements to be acquired in portions of the component that have complex topography, such as welds. The apparatus is installed on an adaptor assembly for inspection of straight section of pipes. This adaptor assembly is not used in absence of straight section.

Abstract: Multi-function receivers are disclosed in which high dynamic range active microwave filters using nanoscale devices are disposed within a switched channelizer stage. In an embodiment the receiver includes an input low noise amplifier, a switched channelizer comprised of active filters utilizing nanoscale devices, an output amplifier, a mixer, and an analog to digital converter. Additionally, the use of highly selective active filters in the channelizer allows for the optional elimination of the mixing stage, improving cost and overall volume.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising drive means operable to provide motive power to the vehicle, the vehicle operable automatically to switch off and subsequently to restart the drive means during a drivecycle thereby to reduce a value of one or more prescribed operating parameters, wherein the vehicle may be placed in an eco-stop condition by driver-operated brake means in which the vehicle is held stationary and the drive means is off, the vehicle being operable automatically to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means, the vehicle comprising means for detecting departure of the driver from the vehicle, in the event that departure of the driver is detected when the vehicle is in the eco-stop condition the vehicle being arranged not to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide heat, electricity, or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to instruction filtering. An aspect includes a computer-implemented method for instruction filtering. The method includes detecting, by a processor, a tracked instruction in an instruction stream, and storing an instruction address of the tracked instruction in a tracking array based on detecting and executing the tracked instruction. The method also includes accessing the tracking array based on an address of instruction data of a subsequently fetched instruction to locate the instruction address of the tracked instruction in the tracking array as an indication of the tracked instruction. The method further includes marking, by the processor, instruction text of the subsequently fetched instruction to indicate that the subsequently fetched instruction is a previously executed tracked instruction based on the indication of the tracked instruction from the tracking array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved processes for purifying polypeptides of interest by increasing the amount of a polypeptide of interest bound to an ion-exchange matrix relative to the amount of one or more impurities bound to the ion-exchange matrix. This effect is achieved by adding a chemical compound in the process which by also binding to the ion-exchange matrix due to a change that is opposite to the change of the ion-exchange matrix, reduces the binding of impurities more than the binding of the polypeptide of interest.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a vehicle drive train with a hydrodynamic retarder which can be engaged and disengaged mechanically via a coupling, whereas the retarder comprises a working chamber formed between two bladed wheels, which is filled with a working fluid for generating a braking torque after detecting a retarder switch-on signal and is emptied of the working medium after detecting a retarder switch-off signal to turn off the braking torque, and the retarder is driven in braking mode by means of a drive shaft via the closed coupling to constitute a hydrodynamic circuit of the working fluid in the working chamber. The invention is characterised in that the speed of the vehicle and/or the rotational speed of the drive shaft is detected or calculated and the coupling is closed above a preset limit speed and/or above a preset limit rotation speed independent of the detection of a retarder switch-on signal to drive the retarder.

Abstract: A tactical gun belt system comprises an inner belt, outer belt, and one or more belt units. The inner belt comprises hook-and-loop fasteners on an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer belt comprises a removable belt buckle and positions the one or more belt units about the waist of a user. The outer belt further comprises hook-and-loop fasteners on an inner surface and detachably affixes to the inner belt. The one or more belt units may attach to one another, may position guns, ammunition magazines, utilities, or pouches, and may comprise a quick-release harness for MOLLE-compatible accessories.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for displaying, suggesting and registering available domain names on a client computer based on selected geographical locations from online mapping service software or a geo-location software. Any combination of an online mapping software and a domain name registration software may receive a selection of one or more geographical locations within a displayed geographical area. Alternatively, a location of a client computer may be detected using the geo-location software. One or more available domain names may be parse for keywords related to the selected geographical area, and one or more available domain names may be suggested based on the selected keywords.

Abstract: A data module encrypts a first portion of a drive in a data center using a first encryption key. The data module encrypts the first encryption key using a second encryption key to obtain an encrypted encryption key. The data module stores the second encryption key in a first location and stores the encrypted encryption key in a second location that is separate from the first location and that is inaccessible from outside the data center.