Abstract: An electronics (100, 200) including an electrical isolation is provided. The electronics (100, 200) include a bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210) separating a first portion (100a, 200a) from a second portion (100, 200b) and a bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) disposed in the second portion (100b, 200b). The bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) is communicatively coupled to the bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210). The bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) receives from the bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210) a communication control signal provided by the first portion (100a, 200a).

Abstract: Provided herein is an illuminated microsurgical instrument system and an illuminated microsurgical instrument. In one implementation, the system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleotide sequences encoding an insecticidal protein exhibiting Lepidopteran inhibitory activity, as well as novel insecticidal proteins referred to herein as a BCW 001, BCW 002, BCW 003, and BCW toxic protein-containing chimeras and BCW toxin insecticide, transgenic plants expressing the chimeras or the insecticide, and methods for detecting the presence of the nucleotide sequences or the insecticide in a biological sample.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleotide sequences encoding an insecticidal protein exhibiting Lepidopteran inhibitory activity, as well as novel insecticidal proteins referred to herein as a BCW 001, BCW 002, BCW 003, and BCW toxic protein-containing chimeras and BCW toxin insecticide, transgenic plants expressing the chimeras or the insecticide, and methods for detecting the presence of the nucleotide sequences or the insecticide in a biological sample.

Abstract: A modular landing port for use on a top of a building structure. The modular landing port includes a base portion. One or more landing module extend from the base portion. The one or more landing modules have a first end provide proximate the base portion and a second end spaced from the base portion. Each of the one or more landing modules have a landing/take-off zone proximate the second end and at least one loading/unloading zone proximate the first end. The landing/take-off zone and the at least one loading/unloading zone are configured to receive a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Abstract: An enhanced safety serial bus connector (100) is provided. The enhanced safety serial bus connector (100) includes a shell (110) with a first end (110a) and a second end (110b), the first end (110a) being a terminal end of the shell (110) and having a terminal centerline (CL), and the second end (110b) being the lead end of the shell (110). The enhanced safety serial bus connector (100) also includes an insulating body (120) disposed inside the shell (110) and extending from approximately the first end (110a) to the second end (110b) and a plurality of conductors (130) substantially disposed in the insulating body (120) and extending from the first end (110a) to the second end (110b).

Abstract: A custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) may provide strong signal integrity while reducing the load to a thermal system. Control and analog-to-digital conversion may be pushed into components close to the detector to maximize signal integrity. Processing functions may be performed at relatively high temperature, or the highest allowable temperatures, simplifying the system-level thermal design by not cooling components that do not require such cooling to function.

Abstract: Methods and systems providing for collaborative commenting in a drawing tool are provided. One example method includes receiving a shape on a drawing canvas, and receiving a comment associated with the shape, the comment including a name of a commenting user. The method also includes receiving an indication of a movement of the shape from the first position to a second position, and, in response to the indication of the movement of the shape, automatically moving the comment closer to the second position of the shape. In some cases, the commenting user can be a user other than the user adding the shape to the document, and can be performed by a concurrent editor of the document.

Abstract: An optical force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.

Abstract: An optical force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optical force sensor may be configured to compensate for variations in temperature using two or more force-sensitive components that are formed from materials having different temperature- and strain-dependent responses.

Abstract: A method is described. The method includes performing write operations on a plurality of NVRAM semiconductor chips of a memory module while tracking power budget headroom for performing the write operations and while monitoring current draw on a supply voltage rail that is coupled to the plurality of NVRAM semiconductor chips. The method further includes detecting the current draw has reached a threshold. The method further includes ceasing or diminishing the write operations in response to the detecting.

Abstract: An adaptive reflected light touch sensor (100, 400) is provided. The adaptive reflected light touch sensor (100, 400) includes an emitter (110) that emits light in a direction that reflects the light (RLI, RLO), a sensor (120, 410) positioned to measure a light amplitude of the reflected light (RLI, RLO), a processor board (150) coupled to the sensor (120, 410), the processor board (150) being configured to calculate a moving average of the measured light amplitude of the reflected light (RLI, RLO) and calculate an assert threshold.

Abstract: A method of billing a payment transaction to a mobile communication service account. The method comprises receiving a request for mobile communication service provider billing approval from a payment processor, wherein the request comprises one of a phone number associated with a mobile communication service account or an equipment identification of a mobile communication device associated with the mobile communication service account, wherein the request comprises a processor routing number, wherein the processor routing number is consistent in format with one of a block of credit card numbers maintained by a mobile communication service provider, and wherein the processor routing number is used by different mobile communication devices associated with different mobile communication service accounts to complete payments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for device-agnostic, multi-factor network authentication are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wireless network connection can authenticate a device over secure authentication means with a certificate that confirms a device identity. After authenticating the device, a user can be prompted to provide credentials in a captive portal. The captive portal can be inaccessible to devices that have not already authenticated using a certificate. After providing approved credentials to the captive portal, the user can access the network. This embodiment and additional embodiments are readily integrated into private wireless networks and others.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mode of a device is provided. The method includes determining a Vbus voltage on a Vbus pin in a USB connector on the device, comparing the Vbus voltage with a threshold, and configuring the device based on the comparison of the Vbus voltage and the threshold.

Abstract: Selective content presentation for the purpose of self-imposed censoring of content is implemented on an electronic device. The selective content presentation involves acquiring a content suppression preference for suppressing content presentation at an electronic device. Subsequently, a content portion and a content selection tag for the content portion are also received at the electronic device. When the electronic device determines based on the content selection tag that a part of content portion is designated for suppression by the content suppression preference, the part of the content portion is obstructed by the electronic device to form a modified content portion. The modified content portion is further presented to a user via the electronic device.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump assembly includes a rotor housing defining a rotor cavity, and an end plate configured to at least partially close one end of the rotor cavity. Rotors are supported on and fixed to rotor shafts and extend through the rotor cavity. A first pair of bearings fixing the rotor shafts to the end plate. A second pair of bearings fixes the rotor shafts to the rotor housing, preventing relative axial movement between the rotor shafts and the rotor housing. The end plate is axially movable with the rotor shafts when the rotor shafts vary in axial length due to thermal fluctuations so that changes in an axial clearance at end faces of the rotors are reduced.