Abstract: A firing control apparatus and method for installing in a firearm, the apparatus comprising: an energy storing mechanism configured to store mechanical energy which is produced by a mechanical system, upon firing the firearm or by manual operation of the firearm, an electromagnet configured to control the energy storing mechanism, wherein the energy storing mechanism holds or releases the mechanical energy to prevent or enable the firearm from firing, and a processor or an electro-mechanical switch configured to activate or deactivate the electromagnet to control the operation of the energy storing mechanism according to preselected rules.

Abstract: A non-resonance photo-neutralizer for negative ion-based neutral beam injectors. The non-resonance photo-neutralizer utilizes a nonresonant photon accumulation, wherein the path of a photon becomes tangled and trapped in a certain space region, i.e., the photon trap. The trap is preferably formed by two smooth mirror surfaces facing each other with at least one of the mirrors being concave. In its simplest form, the trap is elliptical. A confinement region is a region near a family of normals, which are common to both mirror surfaces. The photons with a sufficiently small angle of deviation from the nearest common normal are confined. Depending on specific conditions, the shape of the mirror surface may be one of spherical, elliptical, cylindrical, or toroidal geometry, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: One or more client devices, systems, and/or methods for onboarding feature cues for a product are provided. A feature cue and an existing feature cue, comprising eligible feature cues (e.g., feature cues that a user has not viewed, are relevant to the user, etc.), are provided to a dispatching component (e.g., configured to provide feature cues to users). A presentation hierarchy, of the feature cue and the existing feature cue, is determined based upon feature cue rules and user parameters. The feature cue, having a first hierarchical position in the presentation hierarchy, is presented to the user, through a client device hosting the product, at a first time. The existing feature cue, having a second hierarchical position in the presentation hierarchy, is presented to the user, through the client device, at a second time, where the first time and the second time are determined by the feature cue rules.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for data calculation frameworks for user applications are provided herein. An exemplary method includes registering dynamic functions for use by a calculation engine of the user application, coupling calls made by the calculation engine for the dynamic functions to services that host the dynamic functions, and monitoring availability status for the dynamic functions related to availability of the dynamic functions to process expressions associated with the calculation engine.

Abstract: A driver circuit associated with a power electronic system is disclosed. The driver circuit comprises a gate driver circuit configured to drive a switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches in parallel, each switch comprising a respective source bondwire. The driver circuit further comprises a bondwire fault detection circuit comprising a gate charge estimation circuit configured to measure a parameter of the switching circuit comprising a gate charge of the switching circuit or a parameter indicative of the gate charge associated with the switching circuit. The bondwire fault detection circuit further comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a fault associated with at least one source bondwire of the switching circuit, based on the measured parameter of the switching circuit.

Abstract: Techniques for ranking service implementations for a service interface are disclosed. Each module that includes a service implementation may be referred to as a “service provider module.” The ranking of the service implementations, for the particular service interface, may be based on modular information. Modular information includes information associated with module dependencies and/or service dependencies corresponding to one or more of a candidate set of service provider modules. Additionally or alternatively, the ranking of the service implementations, for the particular service interface, may be based on statically-available information and/or dynamically-available information associated with one or more of a candidate set of service implementations.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum and side wall retractor allows clinicians to visualize the cervix and upper vagina by retracting vaginal walls simultaneously. This device is comprised of a handle, a mobile introducer allowing the device to comfortably be inserted vaginally, and a lower blade capable of stabilizing the cervix and a body containing the side wall retractor. This retractor is comprised of a rolled-up sheet of transparent plastic which can be opened through a rotating shaft countersunk in the body of the base. A friction or sprocket gear allows the rotating shaft to open and close the plastic side wall retractor as well as completely unwinding the transparent plastic sheet so that the device can be removed while leaving surgical instruments in the vagina. The rotating shaft serves as a light guide and brings light from the knob, which contains an LED, into the rolled-up sheet during examinations.

Abstract: A system for powering a network element of a fiber optic wide area network is disclosed. When communication data is transferred between a central office (CO) and a subscriber terminal using a network element to convert optical to electrical (O-E) and electrical to optical (E-O) signals between a fiber from the central office and twisted wire pair, coaxial cable or Ethernet cable transmission lines from the subscriber terminal, techniques related to local powering of a network element or drop site by the subscriber terminal or subscriber premise remote powering device are provided. Certain advantages and/or benefits are achieved using the present invention, such as freedom from any requirement for additional meter installations or meter connection charges and does not require a separate power network.

Abstract: A method and system to help determine the extent to which a hearing prosthesis recipient is exposed to speech. The hearing prosthesis will log data regarding audio input, optimally in correspondence with times when the hearing prosthesis is in a stimulation-on mode in which the hearing prosthesis is set to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient in accordance with received audio input, so as to facilitate identification of speech to which the recipient is exposed. Further, as the hearing prosthesis itself receives the audio input, the hearing prosthesis may analyze the audio input to determine one or more linguistic characteristics of the audio input, such as a quantity of speech by the recipient and/or by others, and the hearing prosthesis may output data representing the determined one or more linguistic characteristics. Advantageously, the data may then be used to help facilitate rehabilitation of the recipient.

Abstract: An approach for controlling light exposure of a light sensitive object is described. Aspects of this approach involve using a first set of radiation sources to irradiate the object with visible radiation and infrared radiation. A second set of radiation sources spot irradiate the object in a set of locations with a target ultraviolet radiation having a range of wavelengths. Radiation sensors detect radiation reflected from the object and environment condition sensors detect conditions of the environment in which the object is located during irradiation. A controller controls irradiation of the light sensitive object by the first and second set of radiation sources according to predetermined optimal irradiation settings specified for various environmental conditions. In addition, the controller adjusts irradiation settings of the first and second set of radiation sources as a function of measurements obtained by the various sensors.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a multi-layer contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds to battery cells in a battery module. The multi-layer contact plate includes two or more primary conductive layers (e.g., Al, Cu, etc.), and a cell terminal connection layer (e.g., steel, Al, Cu, etc.) that is joined with, and sandwiched by, the two or more primary conductive layers. A portion of the cell terminal connection layer is configured to form a set of bonding connectors (e.g., bonding ribbons) to provide a direct electrical bond between the multi-layer contact plate and terminals (e.g., positive terminals, negative terminals, or a combination thereof) of at least one group of battery cells (e.g., a single group of battery cells, two groups of battery cells that are connected in series, etc.).

Abstract: In a representative embodiment, an implantable assembly for a native heart valve comprises a prosthetic heart valve and first and second inflatable bodies. The prosthetic heart valve can comprise a frame and prosthetic leaflets. The first inflatable body can comprise first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured to be secured to tissue of the native heart valve at a first location, and the second end portion is configured to engage an outer surface of the prosthetic valve. The second inflatable body can comprise third and fourth end portions, wherein the third end portion is configured to be secured to tissue of the native heart valve at a second location, and the fourth end portion is configured to engage the outer surface of the prosthetic valve. The first and second inflatable bodies anchor the prosthetic valve within the annulus of the native heart valve.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for receiving a request from a user to access a video that is scheduled for transmission, simultaneously to a plurality of users, beginning from a scheduled start time. The request is received after the scheduled start time the transmission is performed by a linear service to which the user subscribes. In response to receiving the request, the systems and methods may generate for display the video to the user, and may receive, during display of the video, a command from the user to start playback of the video over from the beginning. In response to receiving the command, the systems and methods may identify a non-linear service to which the user subscribes that offers a non-linear copy of the video, and may play back the non-linear copy of the video from the beginning.

Abstract: An element for an electronic device can include a metal exterior portion including a first material, an interior portion including a second, independently selected material, and an engagement feature formed on a surface defined by the exterior and interior portions. The engagement feature can mechanically engage a material molded to the surface. A method for forming an element for an electronic device can include joining a boss to a member, forming a feature in the member while orienting the member via the boss, and at least partially removing the boss to form the element. An electronic device can include a frame defining an interior volume of the device, a display component, a transparent cover positioned adjacent to the display component, and an encapsulating material at least partially surrounding the display component and joining the display component to the frame.

Abstract: Sensor for determining a rotation angle (?) about a rotation axis. The sensor includes a rotary element mounted in a base element so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis. The rotary element is made from a first material having a first refractive index n1 and is constructed from several layers. At least one light generating device is fixedly arranged relative to the base element. At least one light detection device is fixedly arranged relative to the base element and configured to detect a light signal. At least one refractive structure is arranged in each layer and has a second refractive index n2, wherein n2?n1. The at least one beam path extends at least in a first rotation angle range through the at least one refractive structure in order to be able to assign a specific rotation angle (?) to the light signal detected by the at least one light detection device at least in the first rotation angle range.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for connecting optical fibers, commonly used in medical instruments, for use in endoscopy, non-evasive treatments of disease, as well as other medical factions incorporating optical fibers, wherein the novel connector allows for rotation of at least one optical fiber within the connector.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first support structure, a first electrical contact supported by the first support structure, and a first sealing surface. The shaft assembly includes a second support structure, a second electrical contact supported by the second support structure, and a second sealing surface. When the shaft assembly attaches to the body assembly, the first and second electrical contacts electrically couple to establish an electrical connection therebetween, and the first and second sealing surfaces sealingly engage to block fluid from reaching the electrical connection. At least one of the first or second sealing surfaces is movable relative to the respective support structure to facilitate the sealing engagement.

Abstract: A system and method for generation of hydrogen-rich ice (HRI) by introducing water that has been mixed with H2 and CO2 into the vertical tubes of a tube-ice machine is disclosed. The temperature and pressure within the vertical tubes can be maintained by refrigerant surrounding the vertical tubes to form carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates which entrap hydrogen molecules. The carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates cages with entrapped H2 are encased, transported and then delivered after HRI discharge Later, when the HRI tube-ice is formed and released from tube-ice machine, it warms whereupon the carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates dissociate and the H2 is released and used, for example by placement of the tube-ice small cylinders in a glass of water.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for an aircraft includes at least one fuel cell having a first inlet for providing a fuel, a second inlet for providing an oxidant, an outlet for removing exhaust air and a voltage outlet, an electrically operable hydraulic pump, which is integratable into a hydraulics network of the aircraft and connectable to the voltage outlet of the at least one fuel cell and a controllable hydraulic energy converter with changeable operating behaviour. The hydraulic energy converter is adapted for generating such a power demand in the hydraulics network, that the at least one fuel cell provides a predetermined volume flow of oxygen depleted air at the outlet through delivering electrical power to the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A lighting system that includes an extrusion having at least one T-shaped slot therein. The T-shaped slot has an opening along a length of the extrusion, with a lighting encasing unit inserted into the T-shaped slot. The lighting encasing unit includes a shaped light conducting encasement having an internal channel along at least a substantial portion of a length of the shaped light conducting encasement and a light emitting tape assembly inserted into the internal channel.