Abstract: An exemplary system includes a mechanical key and an access control device. The access control device includes a housing defining a keyway that has a fixed position within the housing. The access control device further includes a root depth sensor assembly, an insertion depth sensor assembly, a control assembly in communication with the sensor assemblies, and an electronic lock device. The control assembly is configured to determine the bitting code of the mechanical key based upon information received from the sensor assemblies, to compare the bitting code of the mechanical key to a lock/unlock bitting code; and to transmit a lock/unlock command in response to the bitting code matching the lock/unlock bitting code. The electronic lock device is configured to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state in response to receiving the lock/unlock command and without requiring rotation of the mechanical key.

Abstract: A volatile material dispenser comprises a base that houses a printed circuit board. The base includes at least one button and a plurality of visual indicators along a front portion. The volatile material dispenser further comprises a stand assembly that is coupled with the base. The stand assembly includes a platform defining a front portion and a rear portion, a stand that is disposed above and on the rear portion of the platform, a manifold that is disposed at an upper end of the stand and defines an outer side surface from which extends a plurality of radially spaced ribs, and a piezoelectric assembly disposed within the manifold. The volatile material dispenser further comprises a cover that is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the base. The cover defines a chimney that defines a longitudinal axis. The manifold includes a refill chassis.

Abstract: A communications device configured to communicate in a wireless system having a wireless access interface providing communications resources arranged in time divided units of a host radio access technology, RAT, frequency bandwidth, the time divided units and the host RAT interface frequency bandwidth being arranged into one or more virtual RAT interfaces. The communications device configured to receive the signals transmitted via one of the virtual RAT interfaces in accordance with different communications parameters from the host RAT interface providing different characteristics for communicating data represented by the signals with respect to a characteristic of signals transmitted according to communications parameters in the communications resources of the host RAT interface.

Abstract: A group-based communication platform is configured to ascertain the relatedness of various work objects shared among users of the group-based communication platform. Moreover, the group-based communication platform may further receive and process work objects originating from non-users of the group-based communication platform, thereby further expanding the utility of the determined relatedness between work objects. These work objects (or encrypted representations of these work objects) may be indexed and stored in association with the group-based communication platform, thereby enabling users to search for and retrieve work objects originating from a plurality of work object sources simultaneously, and based on various characteristics of those work objects and the determined interrelatedness between various work objects.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein, inter alia, receive telematics data collected over a period of time, wherein the telematics data is indicative of operation of a vehicle by a potential renter during the period of time; identify, upon analyzing the telematics data, driving behavior(s) of the renter during the period of time; determine, for each driving behavior, a corresponding state of an environment of the vehicle when the driving behavior occurred; determine renter eligibility value(s) for the renter based on the driving behavior(s) and the corresponding state of an environment of the vehicle; compare the renter eligibility value(s) to user preference value(s) of a profile of a vehicle owner, wherein the user preference value(s) define one or more criteria for vehicle renters with whom the vehicle can be shared; and cause an indication of the vehicle associated with the profile to be displayed only if the renter satisfies the criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interactive electronic gaming with collusion detection. A host computer system may initiate an interactive gaming session for an interactive electronic game. Interactions by players may be received by the host computer system via player terminals to control gaming action of an interactive electronic game. Interactive content displayed to the players may be responsively changed according to a state of the game created by gaming action. In response to the gaming action, the interactions received from the player terminals may be evaluated and an occurrence of gaming rule violations may be determined based on a result of the interactions being evaluated. Upon determining an occurrence of a gaming rule violation, the host computer system may initiate actions to bar involved player(s) from participating in the interactive gaming session using respective player terminal(s).

Abstract: Systems and devices may receive an ambient noise signal and use that ambient noise signal to generate a distorted ambient noise signal that may be provided to a speaker that is proximate to a microphone of the audio-activated device so that the speaker may project sound corresponding to the distorted ambient noise into the microphone of the audio-activated device so that, for example, that the audio-activated device cannot decipher speech and other sounds in the ambient noise of an environment. While the distorted ambient noise is being projected into the microphone of the audio-activated device, it may be scanned and/or analyzed to determine whether an audio trigger (e.g., an audio trigger or phrase) is included therein and, if so, an undistorted ambient noise signal may be communicated to the speaker of the audio-activated device so that the audio-activated device may respond to a command included in the ambient noise.

Abstract: A system and method for removing organic carboxylates from a mono ethylene glycol (“MEG”) stream includes a reaction vessel; means for cooling and diluting the MEG stream being routed to the reaction vessel; means for acidifying the cooled and diluted MEG stream during its residence time within the reaction vessel; and means for removing an acetic-rich overhead stream from the reaction vessel. The acidification of the cooled and diluted MEG stream occurs under a vacuum. The reaction vessel may be located downstream of a calcium removal vessel and receive a filtered bottom stream from that vessel, or it may be a single reaction vessel that cycles between a calcium removal mode and an acetate removal mode, with the pressure of the single vessel being greater during the calcium removal mode than during the acetate removal mode.

Abstract: Lubricating compositions are described, the lubricating compositions comprising a base oil component and an additive component, wherein the additive component comprises a non-silicone anti-foaming agent.

Abstract: A method that incorporates a “detail level” setting by means of a slider bar, which may be presented in a graphical user interface, that can used to choose a display level of data to display. At one extreme, the system generates a data display of minimum and maximum values for a set of data of time-series data set being displayed. At the other extreme, the system provides a single “average.” However, between the extremes, the system displays a representation of sets of data that smoothly transitions between the two extremes and in effect combines the averaging function with the minimum and maximum functions to provide a unique representation of a set of data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting an optimal value for an adjustable parameter of a structured light metrology (SLM) system, for scanning an object. The SLM system performs test scans of the object to acquire a plurality of sets of measurements of the object, wherein a different value is used for the parameter for each test scan. For each test scan, a value of a quality metric is calculated, based on the set of measurements of the object associated with the test scan and simulation data representing a simulated scan of the object by the SLM system. A test scan is then identified that has a quality metric value that satisfies a specified optimization criterion; and a value of the adjustable parameter that was used for the identified test scan is selected as the optimal value of the adjustable parameter, for scanning the object.

Abstract: Improvements in the structural components and physical characteristics of lithium battery articles are provided. Standard lithium ion batteries, for example, are prone to certain phenomena related to short circuiting and have experienced high temperature occurrences and ultimate firing as a result. Structural concerns with battery components have been found to contribute to such problems. Improvements provided herein include the utilization of thin metallized current collectors (aluminum and/or copper, as examples), high shrinkage rate materials, materials that become nonconductive upon exposure to high temperatures, and combinations thereof. Such improvements accord the ability to withstand certain imperfections (dendrites, unexpected electrical surges, etc.) within the target lithium battery through provision of ostensibly an internal fuse within the subject lithium batteries themselves that prevents undesirable high temperature results from short circuits.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring signal loss in a fiber optic cable. The tail ends of reference and test fiber optic cables are illuminated with a diffuse light. The head end of each of the reference and test fiber optic cables are positioned in a measurement area. A core imager captures an image of the core of each head-end while it is in the measurement area. Reference and test radiant fluxes emitted from the reference and test head-ends are determined from the respective core images. The relative signal loss of the test fiber optic cable is then determined by comparing the test radiant flux to the reference radiant flux.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide for modular snow and ice retention and mounting systems. In various embodiments, a bracket may comprise a mounting strap, a hybrid pad, a bracket assembly and a rod. The hybrid pad may comprise a face portion and a support portion. The face portion and the support portion may be operatively coupled together. The hybrid pad may be operatively coupled to the mounting strap. The face portion may comprise a stiffening rib. The stiffening rib may be defined in a front surface of the face portion. The stiffening rib may define a first load plane. The face portion may also define a first rod notch. The first rod notch may be defined on a first side of the face portion. The face portion may also define a second rod notch. The rod may be mountable to the hybrid pad.