Abstract: Sensor systems comprising a magnetic circuit comprising a coil, a magnet, at least one of a ferromagnetic armature plate and a conductive armature plate, wherein the at least one of the ferromagnetic armature plate and the conductive armature plate is configured to move axially in response to at least one of the magnet and the coil, and a controller configured to apply a known first voltage across the coil and monitor a current through the coil are provided. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM) includes a first entry which includes one or more bits, a second entry which includes one or more bits, first comparison circuitry configured to compare each bit of a comparand to a corresponding bit of the one or more bits of the first entry and to provide a hit/miss indicator in response thereto, and second comparison circuitry configured to compare each bit of the one or more bits of the first entry to a corresponding bit of the one or more bits of the second entry and to provide a fault indicator in response thereto.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure call for a method, a system, and a computer program product for managing virtual resources for a virtual machine of interest on a physical server. The method includes monitoring a plurality of physical servers, on a computing system. Each physical server provides an initial level of virtual resources to a plurality of virtual machines. The method also includes receiving a requested level of virtual resources for a virtual machine of interest hosted by a first physical server from the plurality of physical servers. The method also includes determining whether the first physical server is able to host the requested level of virtual resources for the virtual machine of interest. The method also includes determining, in response to the first physical server not being able to host the requested level of resources for the virtual machine of interest, a path.

Abstract: The invention presents a method of applying forward error correction selectively to an encoded video sequence before it is transmitted. Forward error correction is targeted at portions of the video that will be most noticeably affected by any potential packet loss during transmission. The targeting is done using a perceptual error sensitivity model, which effectively maps an error visibility rating onto content-dependent and content-independent properties associated with a given portion video. The encoder and decoder settings will be used for the actual video sequence where forward error correction is to be applied are used in the training of the model, as they have a significant effect on the perception of any errors. Then, to adaptively apply forward error correction, a selected video sequence is encoded, and the encoded bitstream is analysed to determine content-independent properties. A decoded version of the video sequence is also analysed to determine content-dependent properties being determined.

Abstract: A method for determining the color depths of the video data for a selected frame in High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) video data transmitted over a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), in which (a) the beginning of the selected frame is marked with a vertical synchronization (VSYNC) signal and (b) a mark in a window of opportunity (WOO) for the selected frame indicates whether or not that frame is encrypted. The method detects, for the selected frame, the length of the interval between a VSYNC signal and the location of at least one of (i) the start of the corresponding WOO and (ii) the mark indicating whether or not the selected frame is encrypted, and then determines the color depth of the video data for the selected frame based on the detected length.

Abstract: A method for treating foam is provided. The method includes providing a foam blank having a thickness, disposing an electrolyte within the foam blank, compressing the foam blank such that the thickness of the foam blank is reduced and drying the foam blank. The method may assist with providing thin electrolyte doped foam.

Abstract: A computer-implemented position-centric personnel modeling apparatus, system, and method may be provided. A nodal hierarchy may be created to correlate with the personnel structure of a business enterprise, wherein each node may be a cyberspace representation of an individual within the personnel structure of the business enterprise. Attributes correlating to individual personnel in the business enterprise may be mapped to a respective node. Objectives may subsequently be tasked within the model and the nodal hierarchy may be rearranged based on the results. Results from the model may optionally be reflected by a business enterprise.

Abstract: A zipper guide is provided to facilitate closure of an open-ended zipper. The zipper guide includes a base to which a zipper tape pin end is attached and a slider to which a zipper tape box end is attached. A key on a lower surface of the slider slides in a trench in an upper surface of the base at an orientation that guides the attached zipper tape box end toward the attached zipper tape pin end by planar sliding movements of the slider lower surface with respect to the base upper surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate distribution and synchronization of digital objects between a plurality of computing devices. In an embodiment, a master file catalog is maintained at a central server. As updates are made to digital object(s) on devices associated with the central server, file catalogs are forwarded to the master catalog which is updated accordingly. The master catalog can then be reviewed to facilitate file sharing in a peer-to-peer manner between the devices. In another embodiment, one-way hash pairings are created when a digital object is created/modified. Received hash pairings can be analyzed to facilitate determination of whether two extants of a digital object are the same or different. Utilizing one-way hash pairings enable sensitive information regarding a digital object to remain secure, and sensitive information (and digital objects) is only shared between authenticated devices.

Abstract: A method of optimising the performance of a machine that comprises an element, comprises the steps of: (a) receiving operational data, the operational data being representative of an operational state of the machine; (b) transmitting an adjustment signal to the element to change the operational state of the element from a first state to a second state, the predetermined second state being dependent on the operational state of the machine; (c) generating an optimising action by processing the operational data, a history of previous operational states of the machine, a history of previous adjustment signals, and a sequence of previously applied optimising actions; and (d) applying the optimising action to the machine to optimise the performance of the machine.

Abstract: A map scrolling method and apparatus for a navigation system prevents from displaying certain icons while displaying other icons based on conditions and settings of the navigation system during a transition period of a map scrolling operation. The map scrolling method includes the steps of: detecting activation of a map scrolling operation; checking whether there is any limit condition attached to icons as to remove them from a map image; scrolling the map image while removing the icons to which the limit condition is attached from the map image during a transition period of the map scrolling operation; and displaying all of the icons when the map scrolling operation is completed.

Abstract: The present application relates to mobile devices and in particular mobile devices which allow installed applications to connect to the Internet. The application addresses the problems associated with limited battery life and network congestion by controlling access to the Internet on each mobile device. The method intercepts requests to transmit IP data from applications and then determines whether they should be granted access.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a tire featuring curved bars are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a modal decomposition of a laser beam are disclosed. The method includes the steps of performing a measurement to determine the second moment beam size (w) and beam propagation factor (M2) of the laser beam, and inferring the scale factor (wO) of the optimal basis set of the laser beam from the second moment beam size and the beam propagation factor, from the relationship: wO=w/M2. An optimal decomposition is performing using the scale factor wO to obtain an optimal mode set of adapted size. The apparatus includes a spatial light modulator arranged for complex amplitude modulation of an incident laser beam, and imaging means arranged to direct the incident laser beam onto the spatial light modulator. Fourier transforming lens is arranged to receive a laser beam reflected from the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A fireplace gas insert comprising: a fire box; a gas burner tube located inside the fire box; four legs attached to the fire box, and configured to create an air gap below the fire box; a first support bar attached to at least one of the four legs, the support bar extending generally away from the from the fire box; a gas valve attached to the first support bar, and in fluid communication with the gas burner tube; an ignition module attached to the first support bar; a remote control receiver unit attached to the first support bar; a cover configured extend from the left side of a fireplace to the right side of the fireplace, and to extend from the rear of the fireplace to the front of the fireplace, and to present a front face to the room the fireplace is located in, the cover comprising: a top; a front attached to the top and located generally orthogonally to the top; an air draw opening located in the front; a firebox opening located in the top; where the top and front generally encloses and hides from vie

Abstract: A Power Over Data Lines (PoDL) system includes Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) supplying DC power and Ethernet data over a single twisted wire pair to a Powered Device (PD). The PSE supplies the DC current and AC data through a cascaded coupling network including a series of AC-blocking inductor stages having different inductances to substantially filter out the AC component and pass the DC component. The data is supplied to the wires via capacitors. The PD may have a matched decoupling network for providing the separated DC power and data to a PD load.

Abstract: A puller for removing a pulley off of the shaft is disclosed. The puller may have proximal and distal plates that are disposable around the pulley so that the pulley is disposed entirely between the proximal and distal plates. These plates are held together by frame members. A push rod is threadably engaged to a proximal plate and operative to be further inserted into the proximal plate so that a distal end of the push rod may push against the shaft and transfer a removing force through the puller to the backside of the pulley for removing the pulley off of the shaft.

Abstract: A paper web and a method of marking a paper web. The paper web includes a surface having a plurality of sections. At least one section of the plurality of sections has a plurality of positions. The plurality of positions each have an equal length and are obtained by subdividing the at least one section. The paper web also includes ink applied to the surface of the paper web at some of the plurality of positions. The method includes applying a first mark and a second mark to a paper web. The first mark has a start position and is coded to convey an identifier for the paper web. The second mark includes a start position and is coded to indicate a position on the paper web. The start position of the second mark is a predetermined distance after the start position of the first mark.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying a fine-grained QoS logic are provided. The system may include a memory controller, the memory controller configured to receive memory access requests from a plurality of masters via a bus fabric. The memory controller determines the priority class of each of the plurality of masters, and further determines the amount of memory data bus bandwidth consumed by each master on the memory data bus. Based on the priority class assigned to each of the masters and the amount of memory data bus bandwidth consumed by each master, the memory controller applies a fine-grained QoS logic to compute a schedule for the memory requests. Based on this schedule, the memory controller converts the memory requests to memory commands, sends the memory commands to a memory device via a memory command bus, and receives a response from the memory device via a memory data bus.

Abstract: Devices and associated methods are provided herein for creating arrays of thin films on a substrate utilizing a capillary force layer-by-layer assembly. Such devices and methods can be configured for forming one or more channels when the device is in operable contact with the substrate, each channel having an inlet reservoir at one end by which the coating material is introduced into the channel, wherein each channel is a lengthwise enclosure defined by a surface of the substrate on one side and one or more adjacent structures of the assembly surrounding the channel along its length. Provided devices and methods facilitate automated, precise manufacture of arrays of customized thin films for lab-on-a-chip biological and/or chemical assay products, for example. Additionally, provided devices and methods significantly reduce material waste, improves quality control, and expands the potential applications of LBL into new research space.