Abstract: Flywheel assembly for powering an electrical generator including a flywheel connecting a small gear and larger second gear. The flywheel, small first gear, larger second gear, all bearings, rotor and stator are connected via an axle. The path of the flywheel is restricted to a circular or other geometrically confined area through the use of bearings, bearing races and other support structures. The fixed ring gears create and maintain the rotational motion of the flywheel so that it always spins in the same direction, and are positioned on either the outside or inside of the confined flywheel assembly path or area. The positioning of the ring gears is consistent with each other so as to maintain continuous rotation of the flywheel in the same direction at all times. In either event, the flywheel always returns to the original point of origin. On the downward path, utilizing the smaller gear, the flywheel travels down the path and picks up speed with each rotation, storing energy in the flywheel as it goes.

Abstract: Backup light systems and methods for use in a vehicle. The system includes a backup light configured to generate light in an illumination pattern, a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to a vehicle condition, and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the backup light and the sensor. The ECU is configured to determine the vehicle condition based on the detected data, and adjust an intensity of the light generated by the backup light based on the vehicle condition.

Abstract: A vehicle including powered door locks, a motor for positioning the powered door locks between a locked position and an unlocked position, one or more sensors for detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered door locks in a predetermined pattern based on speed in response to the one or more sensors detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.

Abstract: Flywheel assembly for powering an electrical generator including a flywheel connecting a small gear and larger second gear. The flywheel, small first gear, larger second gear, all bearings, rotor and stator are connected via an axle. The path of the flywheel is restricted to a circular or other geometrically confined area through the use of bearings, bearing races and other support structures. The fixed ring gears create and maintain the rotational motion of the flywheel so that it always spins in the same direction, and are positioned on either the outside or inside of the confined flywheel assembly path or area. The positioning of the ring gears is consistent with each other so as to maintain continuous rotation of the flywheel in the same direction at all times. In either event, the flywheel always returns to the original point of origin. On the downward path, utilizing the smaller gear, the flywheel travels down the path and picks up speed with each rotation, storing energy in the flywheel as it goes.

Abstract: A vehicle including a powered running board, a motor for positioning the powered running board between a stowed position and a deployed position, a sensor configured to capture data of activity around the vehicle, and an electronic control unit configured to process the data captured by the sensor to detect an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered running board in a predetermined pattern based on at least one of position and a speed in response to the sensor detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle including powered door locks, a motor for positioning the powered door locks between a locked position and an unlocked position, one or more sensors for detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered door locks in a predetermined pattern based on speed in response to the one or more sensors detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal interface material detection includes a heat dissipating device stack up that includes a heat dissipating device, a thermal interface material, a heat generating component, and a printed circuit board. The heat dissipating device is disposed on the thermal interface material, the thermal interface material is disposed on the heat generating component, and the heat generating component is disposed on the printed circuit board. A channel in a body of the heat dissipating device includes an embedded conductive probe, where a first end of the embedded conductive probe leads to a lower surface of the body of the heat dissipating device and a second end of the embedded conductive probe leads to an upper surface of the body of the heat dissipating device.

Abstract: An embodiment takes the form of a system that obtains application-usage data from a personal mobile device of a vehicle operator of a vehicle. The application-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of an application on the personal mobile device. The system identifies a vehicle feature, of the vehicle, that provides a vehicle functionality similar to an application functionality provided by the application on the personal mobile device, and performs a comparison of the obtained application-usage data with feature-usage data. The feature-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of the identified vehicle feature. The system determines, based on the comparison, a usage preference for the application during operation of the vehicle over the identified vehicle feature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting a secure computing system. Aspects include connecting a pluggable security card to a motherboard of the secure computing system. Aspects also include activating a detection circuit to monitor a physical connection between the pluggable security card and the motherboard. Based on detecting that the physical connection between the pluggable security card and the motherboard has been interrupted, aspects include setting a tamper event flag, wherein the secure computing system is prevented from being operated when the tamper event flag is set.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a detection system. The hazard detection system includes a first sensor configured to detect or measure first sensor data including driver behavior patterns and a second sensor configured to detect second sensor data including driving patterns of one or more other vehicles. The hazard detection system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to obtain the first sensor data and the second sensor data and determine that a hazardous condition is present based on the driver behavior patterns or the driving patterns. The electronic control unit is configured to alert a driver of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles or another entity of the hazardous condition.

Abstract: A method for identifying a location of a rideshare requestor to a rideshare vehicle includes receiving a request to locate the rideshare requestor, determining a first location of the rideshare requestor, determining a second location of the rideshare requestor, determining whether the first location is within a threshold distance of the second location, and, in response to the first location being within the threshold distance of the second location, identifying a first immobile vehicle from one or more immobile vehicles within a preset distance from the first location, and transmitting a signal to the first immobile vehicle to cause the first immobile vehicle to indicate the first location of the rideshare requestor to the rideshare vehicle.

Abstract: A cable configuration tool includes an attachment base, a first cable retainer, a second cable retainer, and a cable guide. The attachment base includes an attachment point for mounting to an edge of an enclosure and an arm for mounting the first cable retainer, the second cable retainer, and the cable guide. A first aperture of the first cable retainer, a second aperture of the second cable retainer, and a third aperture of the cable guide are each configured to accept the arm of the attachment base, where the first cable retainer, the second cable retainer, and the cable guide are slidable along the arm. One or more cables for creation of a cable harness are placeable along an outer edge of the cable guide, where the cable guide defines a bend radius for the one or more cables of the cable harness.

Abstract: An embodiment takes the form of a system that obtains application-usage data from a personal mobile device of a vehicle operator of a vehicle. The application-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of an application on the personal mobile device. The system identifies a vehicle feature, of the vehicle, that provides a vehicle functionality similar to an application functionality provided by the application on the personal mobile device, and performs a comparison of the obtained application-usage data with feature-usage data. The feature-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of the identified vehicle feature. The system determines, based on the comparison, a usage preference for the application during operation of the vehicle over the identified vehicle feature.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a detection system. The hazard detection system includes a first sensor configured to detect or measure first sensor data including driver behavior patterns and a second sensor configured to detect second sensor data including driving patterns of one or more other vehicles. The hazard detection system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to obtain the first sensor data and the second sensor data and determine that a hazardous condition is present based on the driver behavior patterns or the driving patterns. The electronic control unit is configured to alert a driver of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles or another entity of the hazardous condition.

Abstract: A modular cabling fixture includes a first structure, a second structure, and a third structure, where a position of the first structure, the second structure, and the third structure is based on a server rack configuration. A first set of members on a first end of the first structure capable of interlocking with a first set of members of the second structure and a second set of members on a second end of the first structure capable of interlocking with a first set of members of the third structure, The first structure includes a first portion of a channel for routing a cable harness, where a position of the first portion of the channel of the first structures is based on the server rack configuration, wherein the cable harness is insertable into the first portion of the channel.

Abstract: A wireless trailer signal system. The system includes a transmitter attachable to a vehicle, and a receiver attachable to a trailer to be towed by the vehicle. The transmitter is operably connected to an electrical system of the vehicle and is wirelessly connected to the receiver. The receiver is operably connected to an electrical system of the trailer. During use, the transmitter receives a signal (e.g., a turn signal or a brake signal) from the electrical system of the vehicle, and wirelessly transmits the signal to the receiver, which operates one or more lights connected to the electrical system of the trailer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for shipping products that include (a) sending requests for quotations by electronic transmission to a plurality of selected carriers based upon customer order specifications, available delivery options and a carrier quality database; (b) selecting a carrier quotation based upon quotations received by electronic transmission and the carrier quality database and updating the carrier quality database with the selected carrier and quotation; (c) preparing the product shipment including using an optical scanner to measure shipment dimensions and a weight scale to measure shipment weight of the product shipment; and (d) if the measured dimensions and weight do not conform to the selected quotation, repeating steps (b) and (c) with measured shipment dimensions and weight or, if the measured dimensions and weight do conform to the selected quotation, notifying carrier to ship the product.

Abstract: In a reverse osmosis fluid purification system, an input fluid is received at an input of the purification system, and a fluid purification run cycle is performed on the input fluid. The fluid purification cycle includes pumping the input fluid through a membrane with a pump at a first pressure and first flow rate to generate product fluid and waste fluid. The product fluid is provided to an external system and the waste fluid is provided to a drain port. The membrane is then rinsed after performing the fluid purification run cycle by providing the input fluid to the pump and pumping the input fluid through the membrane at a second pressure less than the first pressure and a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for shipping products that include (a) sending requests for quotations by electronic transmission to a plurality of selected carriers based upon customer order specifications, available delivery options and a carrier quality database; (b) selecting a carrier quotation based upon quotations received by electronic transmission and the carrier quality database and updating the carrier quality database with the selected carrier and quotation; (c) preparing the product shipment including using an optical scanner to measure shipment dimensions and a weight scale to measure shipment weight of the product shipment; and (d) if the measured dimensions and weight do not conform to the selected quotation, repeating steps (b) and (c) with measured shipment dimensions and weight or, if the measured dimensions and weight do conform to the selected quotation, notifying carrier to ship the product.

Abstract: A microfluidic device which operates without the need for an external power source. The device includes a body structure, at least one microscale channel within the structure, a port for introducing fluid into the channel, and a power source internal to the structure for propelling the fluid through the channel. Various structures are described which embody the invention.