Abstract: A process is disclosed for laser welding sheet metal plates having an anti-corrosion surface layer pre-coat. The plates are arranged one relative to the other in an edge-butting relationship. Using a laser beam having a first beam spot-size, a laser weld joint is formed along the adjacent edges of the sheet metal plates. Subsequent to forming the laser weld joint, a localized anti-corrosion surface layer is formed at least on the laser weld joint. In particular, a laser beam having a second beam spot-size larger than the first beam spot-size is scanned along the laser weld joint. During the scanning, a flow of a powdered anti-corrosion surface layer material is directed toward a portion of the laser weld joint that is being irradiated by the laser beam. The powdered material is melted by the laser beam and forms a layer adhering to the laser weld joint.

Abstract: A conventional head-mounted display (HMDs) can display a virtual image at a fixed focus (e.g., infinite focus). If the user looks at an object that appears closer than the virtual image, then accommodation by the user's eyes will cause the virtual image to appear blurry. The HMDs disclosed herein include a dynamic electro-active focusing element that changes the focus of the virtual image to account for accommodation by the user. This dynamic electro-active focusing element may include a curved layer of electro-active material, such as nematic or bi-stable (e.g., cholesteric) liquid crystal, disposed between a static concave mirror and a convex surface on a beam splitter or other optical element. Changing the refractive index of the electro-active material causes the focus of the dynamic electro-active focusing element, making it possible to shift the virtual image's focus in as the user's eyes change focus.

Abstract: Resistive bridges can connect many ring electrodes in an electro-active lens with a relatively small number of buss lines. These resistors are usually large to prevent excessive current consumption. Conventionally, they are disposed in the same plane as the ring electrodes, which means that the ring electrodes are spaced farther apart or made discontinuous to accommodate the resistors. But spacing the ring electrodes farther apart or making them discontinuous degrades the lens's optical quality. Placing the ring electrodes and resistors on layers separated by an insulator makes it possible for the ring electrodes to be closer together and continuous with resistance high enough to limit current consumption. It also relaxes constraints on feature sizes and placement during the process used to make the lens. And because the resistors and electrodes are on different planes, they can be formed of materials with different resistivities.

Abstract: A modular direct current power source is provided. One welding power supply system includes a plurality of hysteretic buck converters coupled in parallel. The hysteretic buck converters are configured to receive a common input and to provide combined output power to a common load based upon the common input.

Abstract: Mutual-complementary modeling and testing methods are disclosed that can enable validated mapping from external oil and gas information sources to existing fluid optical databases through the use of forward and inverse neural networks. The forward neural networks use fluid compositional inputs to produce fluid principal spectroscopy components (PSC). The inverse neural networks apply PSC inputs to estimate fluid compositional outputs. The fluid compositional data from external sources can be tested through forward models first. The produced PSC outputs are then entered as inputs to inverse models to generate fluid compositional data. The degree of matching between reconstructed fluid compositions and the original testing data suggests which part of the new data can be integrated directly into the existing database as validated mapping. The applications of using PSC inputs to reconstruct infrared spectra and estimate oil-based-mud (OBM) contamination with endmember spectral fingerprints are also included.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via light from a light source, rendering an image on a retina.

Abstract: A welding or cutting device includes a first transistor coupled between a first node and a second node. The first transistor controls current and voltage provided to an inductor during a welding or cutting operation. The welding or cutting device also includes a first diode coupled in series with the first transistor between the second node and a third node, and a second diode coupled in parallel with the first transistor and the first diode between the first node and a fourth node. Additionally, the welding or cutting device includes a second transistor coupled in series with the second diode and in parallel with the first transistor and the first diode between the fourth node and the third node. The second transistor controls a voltage applied to a transistor during a freewheeling operation of the inductor.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with Capsicum plants producing greater than about 0.4% zeaxanthin, by weight in the dried, ripe fruit pod flesh, which plants have been developed from commercially grown Capsicum cultivars by plant breeding techniques. Zeaxanthin is the dominant carotenoid in the dried ripe fruit pod flesh, when measured in non-esterified forms. Alternatively, these plants may be characterized as exhibiting a high pigmentation measured as an ASTA value and further characterized by the predominant presence of zeaxanthin. The zeaxanthin derived from these Capsicum plants can be used in applications that include nutritional supplements, foods, functional foods, cosmetics, animal feeds, aquaculture feeds, and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via a device implanted in a mammal, sensing a ciliary muscle movement and/or force and/or converting the ciliary muscle movement and/or force to a signal and/or a predetermined form of power.

Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an anti-corrosion pre-coat material on at least one major surface thereof. The sheet metal workpiece is arranged such that first and second side edges are in contact with one another and the coated major surface faces outwardly. A first laser beam having a first beam spot-size is used to form a laser weld joint between the first and second side edges. A second laser beam having a second beam spot-size larger than the first beam spot-size is then scanned along the laser weld joint and is tilted in a tilt direction parallel to the scanning direction to produce an elongated beam spot. During the scanning, a flow of a powdered anti-corrosion surface layer material is directed toward a portion of the laser weld joint that is being irradiated by the second laser beam. The second laser beam melts the material, which forms a layer adhering to the laser weld joint.

Abstract: A beam steering device includes a substrate with a first refractive index that defines a cavity, an electroactive material in the cavity that has a variable refractive index, and two sets of opposing overlays. The overlays in one set of opposing overlays are parallel to each other, while the overlays in the other set are tilted with respect to each other. This allows one or more electric fields between the overlays to be used to align the electroactive material in two different directions to change its refractive index, allowing for a faster speed of beam steering through refraction than conventional approaches.

Abstract: Marine geophysical damper system. At least some of the example embodiments are methods of manufacturing a geophysical data product including obtaining geophysical data by a sensor streamer; and recording the geophysical data on a tangible computer-readable medium. The obtaining may include: towing a sensor streamer and a dilt buoy, the dilt buoy coupled to a proximal end of the sensor streamer by a line, the sensor streamer is submerged in a body of water and the dilt buoy is disposed at the surface the body of water; and during the towing measuring movement of the dilt buoy caused by surface wave action; and selectively damping relative movement between the dilt buoy and the sensor streamer, the relative movement caused by the surface wave action, and the selectively damping by a damper associated with the line.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a grin lens having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the grin lens is made from a polymeric material, an optical fiber having a distal end coupled to the proximal end of the grin lens, and a beam director coupled to the distal end of the grin lens, wherein the beam director is configured to direct light at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A welding system monitors the changes in the power output provided from a power supply to a device to determine the inductance of power cables between the power supply and the device. The device may determine the inductance of the power cables based at least in part on a delay in a threshold change in voltage to the device after a change in the current demand of the device, a delay in the initialization of the change in the current demand of the device after an initialization signal, a rate of change of the current drawn by the device, or a relative comparison of the voltage to the device and the current drawn by the device, or any combination thereof. If the inductance of the power cables is greater than a threshold inductance, the device may signal the user, disable operation of the device, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Resistive bridges can connect many ring electrodes in an electro-active lens with a relatively small number of buss lines. These resistors are usually large to prevent excessive current consumption. Conventionally, they are disposed in the same plane as the ring electrodes, which means that the ring electrodes are spaced farther apart or made discontinuous to accommodate the resistors. But spacing the ring electrodes farther apart or making them discontinuous degrades the lens's optical quality. Placing the ring electrodes and resistors on layers separated by an insulator makes it possible for the ring electrodes to be closer together and continuous with resistance high enough to limit current consumption. It also relaxes constraints on feature sizes and placement during the process used to make the lens. And because the resistors and electrodes are on different planes, they can be formed of materials with different resistivities.

Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an anti-corrosion pre-coat on at least one major surface thereof and having first and second opposite side edges. The sheet metal workpiece is arranged such that the first and second side edges are in contact with one another and such that the at least one major surface faces outwardly. A laser beam having a first beam spot-size, is used to form a laser weld joint between the first and second side edges. Subsequently, a localized anti-corrosion surface layer is formed on the laser weld joint. To this end, a laser beam having a second beam spot-size larger than the first beam spot-size is scanned along the laser weld joint. During the scanning, a flow of a powdered anti-corrosion surface layer material is directed toward a portion of the laser weld joint that is being irradiated by the laser beam. The laser beam melts the material, which subsequently solidifies to form a layer adhering to the laser weld joint.

Abstract: A combustor panel of a combustor may include a combustion facing surface, a cooling surface opposite the combustion facing surface, and heat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface. A grouping of the heat transfer pins may include a metallic coating.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a core sampling system. The core sampling system includes a core barrel that in operation receives a core sample from a well. Additionally, the core sampling system includes an isolated pressure compensation system, and a selectively activated isolation mechanism coupled between the core barrel and the isolated pressure compensation system. Further, the core sampling system includes a controller that in operation deactivates the selectively activated isolation mechanism upon closing of the core barrel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a grin lens having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the grin lens is made from a polymeric material, an optical fiber having a distal end coupled to the proximal end of the grin lens, and a beam director coupled to the distal end of the grin lens, wherein the beam director is configured to direct light at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.