Abstract: A camera assembly comprises a support structure and an image sensor mounted on a carrier that is suspended on the support structure by at least one plain bearing that allows movement of the carrier and the image sensor relative to the support structure in any direction laterally to the light-sensitive region of the image sensor. An actuator arrangement comprising plural shape memory alloy wires is arranged to move the carrier and the image sensor relative to the support structure for providing optical image stabilisation of the image captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: A wire feeder includes a tensioner with a discrete number of compressive force settings for applying a desired compressive force to welding wire fed through the wire feeder is provided. The tensioner includes an adjustment knob with a discrete number of detents disposed along a helical surface adjacent an inner bore of the adjustment knob. The tensioner also includes a pin extending from an end of a tensioning post located in the inner bore, the pin being configured to align with the detents of the adjustment knob. Rotation of the adjustment knob adjusts alignment of the pin among the discrete number of detents, which correspond to the discrete number of compressive force settings.

Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for constructing a chat video are provided. For example, a user may define a participant definition defining one or more participants for a conversation to playback through the chat video. The user may define a sequence of content items (e.g., images, videos, text, emojis, emoticons, etc.) that are to be displayed through a chat interface for the conversation. A sequence of message elements (e.g., chat bubbles) are constructed based upon the participant definition and/or the sequence of content items. A message element comprises a content item and is assigned to a participant. The sequence of message elements are surfaced through the chat interface to visually present the conversation as a rendering used to construct the chat video.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, includes forming a conductive layer in a recessed portion of a porous dielectric layer, partially removing a top portion of the conductive layer while maintaining a height of the porous dielectric layer, forming a conformal cap layer on the porous dielectric layer and the conductive layer in the recessed portion, polishing the conformal cap layer to form a gap in the conformal cap layer, such that an upper surface of the porous dielectric layer is exposed through the gap and an upper surface of the conductive layer is protected by the cap layer, and performing a heat treatment to burn out a pore filler of the porous dielectric layer through the exposed upper surface of the porous dielectric layer.

Abstract: The disclosure herein provides systems, methods, and devices for determining and displaying market relative positions and/or attributes of unique items. A visualization system for generating electronic visualizations of market-relative attributes of unique items comprises an item selection receiver, a visualization compilation engine, and a rendering engine.

Abstract: A quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and melt curve (dissociation and/or association curve) analysis, the instrument having at least one optical channel, the instrument comprising: a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector having a signal output; an electronic analogue signal amplifier having an input coupled to said fluorescence detector signal output; and an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) having analogue input coupled to an output of said analogue signal amplifier; further comprising a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between said signal output of said fluorescence detector and said analogue input of ADC, wherein said AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for said analogue input of said ADC; and a system to scale a digital output of said ADC responsive to said numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from said scaled digital output.

Abstract: A computing device may receive from a first application executing on at least one processor an indication of an action to be performed. The computing device may determine, based on at least the indication of the action to be performed, a plurality of deep links to a plurality of actions performable by a plurality of applications. The computing device may select a subset of deep links from the plurality of deep links. The computing device may output for display a graphical user interface including an indication of each deep link from the subset of deep links. The computing device may receive an indication of a user input, the user input corresponding to a selection of one of the deep links from the subset of deep links. A second application executing on the at least one processor may perform an action linked to by the selected deep link.

Abstract: A device for application of even pressure on a plunger head includes: a center rod with a pressure plate affixed at a first end and a back plate positioned adjacent to a second end; a positioning spring adjacent to the pressure plate at a surface distal to the center rod; a positioning plate adjacent to an end of the positioning spring distal to the pressure plate; a housing including an aperture at a position adjacent to a distal surface of the positioning plate; a main spring surrounding the center rod between the back plate and the pressure plate; and a mechanism positioned to move the center rod between the pressure plate and the back plate, the mechanism positioned to compress the main spring between the pressure plate and the back plate in response to force applied by a user.

Abstract: A service provider system may implement an enterprise catalog service that manages software products and portfolios of software products on behalf of service provider customer organizations. A graph processing service of the enterprise catalog service may create a graph representation of the enterprise catalog service data, including principals, product listings, portfolios, and constraints (and the relationships between them) that may be used to manage access control, launch contexts, and searches within the enterprise catalog service. A primary (key-value) store may maintain an adjacency list and a secondary index of de-normalized edges. A secondary (document) store may maintain the de-normalized edges. In response to various queries directed to the graph processing service, the service may query the adjacency list or the secondary index. For example, one query may return a list of products that an end user can access, and another may return a count of products within a portfolio.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for automated. VM performance tuning. An auto-tuning system implements a three stage automated VM performance tuning process to optimize garbage collection. In the first stage, the auto-tuning system analyzes garbage collection logs to calculate garbage collection parameters to configure the new generation portion of the memory heap (e.g., maximum tenuring age, maximum new size and survivor ratio). In the second stage, the auto-tuning system implements the calculated garbage collection parameter and monitors garbage collection activity for the VM to determine the resulting effects. In the third stage, the auto-tuning system tunes the old generation portion of the memory heap based on the monitored garbage collection activity.

Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller and a group of lighting devices. The central controller includes a processor, first and second communication interfaces, various lighting devices and a communication link. The first communication interface includes input ports and a multiplexer configured to receive signals from the input ports and combine the received signals into a multiplexed signal. The second communication interface includes one or more antennas and is configured to receive the multiplexed signal from the multiplexer and transmit the multiplexed signal via the antenna(s). Each lighting device includes a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface. The communication link transmits the multiplexed signal between one or more of the lighting devices and at least one of the communication interfaces of the central controller.

Abstract: A binaural audio calibration method, system, and computer program product for using behavioral data and sensor data to calibrate binaural audio to a specific user and creating a personalized binaural audio which can lead to greater immersion and allow user attention to be more effectively controlled.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for producing a target map for a computing device, such as a mobile device. A set of golf shot data may be obtained and may include shot location data from a plurality of users and associated with a hole on a golf course. A geographic region may be determined based on the shot location data. A subset of target locations may be calculated using a target score and the shot location data of the set of golf shot data. In some cases, the target score is par. A target map may be produced using the subset of target locations. A visual indicia of the target map may be displayed with an image depicting at least a portion of the hole on the golf course.

Abstract: A welding system includes a welding wire feeder, and the welding wire feeder includes a motor and an adjustable drive shaft assembly. The motor is and configured to rotate a feed roll with respect to the wire drive assembly housing. The adjustable drive shaft assembly is coupled to the motor and configured to couple with the feed roll. The adjustable drive shaft assembly includes a drive mechanism configured to urge rotation of the feed roll and to adjust a position of the feed roll relative to the wire drive assembly housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for off-the-record communication including expiring messages. An example method comprises receiving an electronic communication from a source device, the electronic communication including at least one expiring message, temporarily storing content of the expiring message in a non-durable memory for a predetermined amount of time, durably storing envelope information associated with the expiring message in a durable memory, and determining whether a recipient device for the expiring message is available to accept transmission of the expiring message and determining whether an expiration event has occurred.

Abstract: A method includes determining, via a processor, a commanded temperature rate for a component of a steam turbine system. The method further includes determining, via the processor, a measured temperature rate for the component of the steam turbine system. The method additionally includes determining, via the processor, a variable multiplier based at least in part on the commanded temperature rate and the measured temperature rate. The method also includes deriving, via the processor, a multiplied temperature rate command by applying the variable multiplier to the commanded temperature rate.

Abstract: A split center console assembly includes a front end wall, a rear end wall, and first and second opposing side walls, each cooperating to define a storage compartment. The assembly includes a split cover for selectively providing access to the storage compartment. The split cover includes a pivoting driver armrest and a pivoting passenger armrest. Each armrest includes an upper support surface configured to provide arm support when the split center console assembly is in a closed position, a side edge support surface configured to provide an arm support when the split center console assembly is in an open position, and a lower surface. At least one pivot hinge is provided, defining an arm portion extending a distance from a pivot axis and configured to pivotally couple the respective armrest to the storage compartment. In various aspects, each pivot axis is offset a distance from the side walls.

Abstract: A kit or assembly for a ceiling fan can include a downrod and a set of electrical wires. The downrod can include a sidewall defining an interior. An opening can be provided in the sidewall for accessing the interior. The set of electrical wires can extend through the interior of the downrod, having first and second sets of wire tips, and can be longer than the downrod. An optional electrical connector can be provided on one of the first or second sets of wire tips.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic signature service receives a document to be electronically signed on behalf of an organization. The electronic signature service automatically determines at least one authorized signatory from the organization for executing the received document. The authorized signatory is determined from data describing an organizational structure and signature authorities for the organization. The electronic signature service electronically provides the document to the authorized signatory via a data network.

Abstract: We describe a quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and melt curve (dissociation and/or association curve) analysis. The instrument has at least one optical channel; a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector; an electronic analog signal amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the fluorescence detector; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having analog input coupled to an output of the analog signal amplifier. The instrument further comprises a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between the signal output of the fluorescence detector and the analog input of the ADC. The AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for the analog input of the ADC. The instrument also includes a system to scale a digital output of the ADC responsive to the numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from the scaled digital output.