Abstract: Various embodiments of tools with associated optical measurement devices are described. An apparatus may include a tool to be applied to a workpiece, an optical measurement device in a feed path of the tool, and a controller. The optical measurement device may generate displacement measurements indicative of displacement of the workpiece as the workpiece traverses the feed path toward the tool. The controller may generate a measurement of the workpiece based on the plurality of displacement measurements.

Abstract: Various tape measures and devices for stabilizing and securing such tape measures during use are described. Some tape measures may include a tang that extends from a back side of the tape measure. The extended tang may secure the tape measure to the object being measured. The tang may further provide lateral stabilization. Some tape measures may include a horizontal reel that lowers the center of gravity and increases stability of the tape measure. Further tape measures may incorporate extendable stabilizers that increase an effective width of the tape measure and thus its lateral stability during use.

Abstract: Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system and method provides constellation/dots style conductive charging having multiple terminal constellations for one or both of providing redundancy in the case of dirty or non-working contacts and providing a voltage/amperage divide for handling higher voltage and/or increased capacity battery packs.

Abstract: A multi-mode air compressor pressure switch is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the switch has a first range that includes a first cut-out pressure and a first cut-in pressure. A second mode of operation of the switch has a second range that includes a second cut-out pressure and a second cut-in pressure. The second range is smaller than the first range. The second mode of operation adds compressor output over the first mode of operation to extend operable time of a tool that is connected to a compressor that is controlled by the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a lawn mowing apparatus are described. Such apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may used to adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tools with associated optical measurement devices are described. An apparatus may include a tool to be applied to a workpiece, an optical measurement device in a feed path of the tool, and a controller. The optical measurement device may generate displacement measurements indicative of displacement of the workpiece as the workpiece traverses the feed path toward the tool. The controller may generate a measurement of the workpiece based on the plurality of displacement measurements.

Abstract: A conductive insert which provides a low resistance bond between low conductive materials. The insert includes a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. A plurality of openings extends between the first surface and the second surface. At least one first projection extends from the first surface proximate respective first openings, the at least one first projections extend from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface. At least one second projection extends from the second surface proximate respective second openings, the at least one second projections extend from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of power tool and method of operating same are described. The power tool may include a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a third position sensor, and a controller. The first, second, and third position sensors may each generate a signal indicative of a distance between the respective position sensor and a workpiece. The controller may determine one or more angles of the power tool with respect to the workpiece based on the first, second, and third signal and present an indication as to whether the one or more angles are within a predetermined range. The controller may further obtain a depth measurement based on the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal and generate, based on the obtained depth measurement, one or more control signals that control operation of the power tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a storage processing service that processes multiple storage commands. The storage processing service uses tags from test storage commands to determine whether a test storage service is to be instantiated that reflects a corresponding production service. Test storage commands with the same tag are tested on that test service. Additionally, the storage processing service determines a strategy for testing processes on production services when the storage system is overloaded. In one embodiment, the test service manager can determine to stop testing processes for a period of time, and issue a shed command that queues or sheds test storage commands. Advantageously, a shed command, while active at a storage processing service, may alleviate the overload on production services. The test service manager can continue to monitor the storage system to determine whether the overload continues to exist.

Abstract: Various tape measures and devices for stabilizing and securing such tape measures during use are described. Some tape measures may include a tang that extends from a back side of the tape measure. The extended tang may secure the tape measure to the object being measured. The tang may further provide lateral stabilization. Some tape measures may include a horizontal reel that lowers the center of gravity and increases stability of the tape measure. Further tape measures may incorporate extendable stabilizers that increase an effective width of the tape measure and thus its lateral stability during use.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tape measures having a horizontally mounted reel are described. Some tape measures include a plurality of guide members that twist and guide a measuring tape blade as the measuring tape blade is uncoiled from the reel and extended through a slot in the tape measure casing. In some embodiment, the plurality of members include a bottom guide member between the reel and a bottom wall of the casing, a side guide member between the reel and a side wall of casing, and a variable-diameter guide member between the bottom roller and the side roller. In some embodiment, the variable-diameter roller is formed from the reel and a coiled portion the measuring tape blade.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may include a method and apparatus configured determine an optimal routing path to route a call through a network. One example method may include retrieving and parsing a routing table and storing the parsed routing information in a routing database. The method may also include determining a plurality of routes that could be used to route the call through the network by applying at least one cost metric to the plurality of determined routes. The method may also include determining an order of the plurality of routes used to route the call, and create a route used to route the call based on the determined order of the plurality of routes.

Abstract: A system and method for ordering supplies, includes a portable barcode scanner configured to output data according to at least one of an HID, CDC or SPP protocol. A mobile phone device incapable of recognizing and parsing data when the data is configured according to the HID, CDC or SPP protocol is connected to the scanner using a communication connection. A scanner adapter application on the mobile phone device, which receives the output data comprising order data, is configured to parse the order data and pass it to an upload application having a current data field that receives at least part of the order data. A listener server configured to receive the at least part of the order data from the upload application processes the order information into an electronic order, and sends the electronic order to a vendor server.

Abstract: A conductive insert which provides a low resistance bond between low conductive materials. The insert includes a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. A plurality of openings extends between the first surface and the second surface. At least one first projection extends from the first surface proximate respective first openings, the at least one first projections extend from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface. At least one second projection extends from the second surface proximate respective second openings, the at least one second projections extend from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface. The insert provides a stable, low resistance electrically conductive path between the conductive materials.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may include a method and apparatus configured determine an optimal routing path to route a call through a network. One example method may include retrieving and parsing a routing table and storing the parsed routing information in a routing database. The method may also include determining a plurality of routes that could be used to route the call through the network by applying at least one cost metric to the plurality of determined routes. The method may also include determining an order of the plurality of routes used to route the call, and create a route used to route the call based on the determined order of the plurality of routes.

Abstract: A device and method for triggering the smoke detection system on a vessel in response to a fire inside a container housed in the vessel by providing a fire detection system inside the container and generating artificial smoke outside of the container in response to detecting fire inside the container.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may include a method and apparatus configured determine an optimal routing path to route a call through a network. One example method may include retrieving and parsing a routing table and storing the parsed routing information in a routing database. The method may also include determining a plurality of routes that could be used to route the call through the network by applying at least one cost metric to the plurality of determined routes. The method may also include determining an order of the plurality of routes used to route the call, and create a route used to route the call based on the determined order of the plurality of routes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adjustment tool for managing a collection of assets and a method of customizing established percentages of segments that constitute a collection of assets. In one embodiment, the adjustment tool includes: (1) an interface configured to receive manipulation data associated with at least one of multiple segments that form the collection, wherein the multiple segments constitute the collection according to established percentages; and (2) a decision engine configured to generate a modified percentage of the at least one of the multiple segments based on the manipulation data, wherein the modified percentage differs from an established percentage of the at least one.