Abstract: An integral Wien filter and vacuum pump for separating charged particles or for orienting their spin direction while maintaining optimal beamline vacuum. The vacuum pump is an ion pump including one or more cylindrical Penning cells to trap and expel electrons. The Wien filter includes orthogonal electric and magnetic fields to direct particles with the desired speed through the device while deflecting particles at undesired speeds. The Wien filter includes two electrodes, one biased positive and one biased negative, a dipole magnet, and means for reversing polarity of the electrodes to flip the spin of the charged particles. Metal plates on either side of the Penning cells embed gas that is ionized by trapped electrons in the Penning cell thus creating vacuum by turning gas into solid. The two metal plates can be configured to obtain vacuum pumping via chemical gettering and for removal of noble gases.

Abstract: Apparatus to store a mobility device in a lift gate of a vehicle are described herein. An example apparatus includes a lift gate of a vehicle and a mobility device coupled to an interior of the lift gate.

Abstract: An air register assembly may include a vent housing having an outlet, an inlet, and a body portion disposed therebetween. The body portion may include a first portion disposed adjacent to the inlet, and a second portion that is wider than the first portion disposed adjacent to the outlet. At least one panel may be slideably coupled to the first portion of the vent housing between extended and retracted positions. The at least one panel may be substantially disposed within the first portion of the vent housing when the at least one panel is in the retracted position, and further wherein the at least one panel may be substantially disposed within the second portion of the vent housing when the at least one panel is in the extended position.

Abstract: Described herein is the application of centrifugal spinning to provide a flexible mechanoluminescent material composed of rare earth metal doped fibers. Rare earth metal doped fibers are formed, in one embodiment, by centrifugal spinning.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products, and articles of manufacture for performing a query are described. Context information for formulating a query is obtained. The query is performed to identify a first card based on the context information, the query being performed by comparing the context information and an attribute of the first card, the attribute defining context of the first card. The identification of the first card that satisfies the query is provided.

Abstract: A parking management method and system wherein the parking rate for a parking facility varies based on the capacity of the parking facility, weather or other factors. The current parking rate is visible on a display positioned at the entry to the parking facility or, alternatively, on a payment kiosk near or in the parking facility. As the driver accepts the displayed rate, a camera records both the rate and the driver, thereby providing verification that the driver accepted the displayed rate. When the driver leaves the parking facility, or in the event of a dispute over the rate agreed-upon by the driver, the photograph may be displayed as verification of the rate the driver accepted.

Abstract: A gateless parking management system is disclosed. When a vehicle entering a parking facility is proximal to a beacon, the beacon pushes payment information to the driver's mobile device or the vehicle's head unit and a license plate recognition camera captures and transmits license plate information to a back-end system through the cloud. After entering the parking facility, the driver has a limited amount of time to make payment, either through the mobile application or at pay-by-plate pay stations positioned proximal to parking spaces in the parking facility. If the driver fails or refuses to make payment within the allotted time, the system may initiate an enforcement action.

Abstract: A parking facility access management system having a sensing device communicatively connected to the internet and to a mechanism for providing access to a parking facility. A mobile device is communicatively connected to the sensing device while in proximity to the sensing device, and also communicatively connected to the internet while not in proximity to the sensing device. As the mobile device enters proximity to the sensing device, the mobile device communicates exclusively with the sensing device and not the internet. In some embodiments, as the mobile device enters proximity to the sensing device, the mobile device sends a signal to the sensing device to alert the mechanism for providing access to provide access to the parking facility.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of sanitizing and preserving produce and other agricultural products, for example for consumption as Ready-to-Eat. The methods can comprise treating the products with a sanitizing agent and forming a protective coating over the products.

Abstract: Compositions for forming protective coatings can include a first group of compounds, where each compound of the first group is a fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The compositions can optionally include a second group of compounds selected from fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first group can function as emulsifiers, allowing the composition to be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second group can function as wetting agents in order to improve the surface wetting of items to be coated when solutions, suspensions, or colloids that include the compositions are applied to the items.

Abstract: A real-time parking management method and system are disclosed. The fee for access to a parking facility varies based on the capacity of the parking facility. Alternatively, the fee may vary based on the size, weight or capacity of the vehicle. Still alternatively, the fee may vary based on the specific weather conditions at the time the vehicle enters the parking facility. In certain instances, a parking facility may auction parking spaces and award the space to the highest bidder.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of sanitizing and preserving produce and other agricultural products, for example for consumption as Ready-to-Eat. The methods can comprise treating the products with a sanitizing agent and forming a protective coating over the products.

Abstract: The present invention is a toilet paper dispensing device having loading means located at an upper intake portion of the housing to permit introduction of paper rolls into the housing therefrom. Toilet paper rolls are stored and released into a lower compartment having locking means for rotatably engage a paper roll being used and releasable mounted within a lower dispensing portion of the housing to cooperatively permit a user to pull the paper from said paper roll being used; upon the toilet paper roll in use, a user can remove the empty roll using a door on the housing and actuate a lever to allow the next toilet paper roll in line to fall into the lower compartment and be held in place by hook members so a user can easily grab toilet paper from the lower compartment.

Abstract: A control method controls a power converter circuit. The power converter circuit includes at least one inductive element (L) storing an output energy, a charging switch (C) for charging the inductive element (L), a releasing switch (R) for releasing the stored output energy from the inductive element (L) and for charging the inductive element (L) with a compensation energy and an output capacitor (Cout) saving the released output energy. The compensation energy is used to achieve Minimized Voltage Switching (MVS) condition when switching on the charging switch (C). A turn on time (te, tdis) of the releasing switch is adjusted by a closed-loop control of a compensation control variable (Vaux) measured in the power converter circuit or of a characteristic value (Vsample) derived from this compensation control variable (Vaux), and a respective power converter circuit.

Abstract: The technology relates to transitioning between panoramic imagery and the imagery from which the panoramic imagery was generated. Individual images of a portion of a scene may be combined to create a panoramic image of the entire scene. The individual images may be associated with the portion of the panoramic image which they form. The full panoramic image may then be displayed. Based on user input, a portion of the panoramic image may be zoomed-in on, and the individual image associated with that portion of the panoramic image may be displayed.

Abstract: A trim panel includes a container holder operably coupled to a storage area. A scuff plate is positioned below the trim panel. The scuff plate has a container receptacle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for controlling the rate of ripening for agricultural produce. The present disclosure further provides coating compositions that can be applied to produce to control (e.g., lessen) the rate of ripening of the produce.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to capturing panoramic images using a computing device. For example, the computing device may record a set of video frames and tracking features each including one or more features that appear in two or more video frames of the set of video frames within the set of video frames may be determined. A set of frame-based features based on the displacement of the tracking features between two or more video frames of the set of video frames may be determined by the computing device. A set of historical feature values based on the set of frame-based features may also be determined by the computing device. The computing device may determine then whether a user is attempting to capture a panoramic image based on the set of historical feature values. In response, the computing device may capture a panoramic image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described include defining, at a computing device, a set of images based on captured images, projecting, at the computing device, a portion of the set of images from a planar perspective image plane onto a spherical image plane by recasting a plurality of viewing rays associated with the portion of the set of images from a plurality of viewpoints arranged around a curved path to a viewpoint, determining, at the computing device, a periphery boundary corresponding to the viewpoint and generating updated images by removing pixels that are outside of the periphery boundary, and providing, for display, the updated images within the bounds of the periphery boundary.

Abstract: Described embodiments automatically recover missing or corrupted configuration packages or package caches. Upon detecting a failure of an attempt by an installation agent to uninstall or upgrade software, a management agent may identify affected packages or data. The management agent may retrieve a corresponding version of the package from a storage server. The management agent may extract the configuration package or package cache, and restore the affected package. The installation agent may then proceed with uninstalling or upgrading the software. This process may be iteratively repeated for affected packages until the software is fully uninstalled or upgraded.