Abstract: A method of controlling and coordinating of processing steps in a distributed system can be implemented by an initiator node of a cyclically-ordered set of nodes participating in a blockchain network (e.g., Bitcoin blockchain). The method includes generating a private key and cryptographic shares thereof for the nodes of the set and distributing them. A locking value is determined based on the shares and a transaction is arranged to transmit control of a resource responsive to supply of a corresponding unlocking value. A circuit of transactions amongst the nodes each arranged to transmit control of a resource responsive to supply of an unlocking value corresponding to a locking value determined based on the share distributed to a first node of one of two adjacent nodes and a value received from another node immediately previous to it is prepared. The initiator node may belong to a cyclically-ordered set of initiator nodes.

Abstract: Unloader for a compressor, said unloader (1) comprising a housing (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4), and whereby the unloader (1) is further provided with a piston rod (5) which is arranged moveably in a reciprocating manner in the housing (2), whereby on one end (5a) of the piston rod (5) a valve (7) is provided to be able to close the outlet (4) and whereby on the other end (5b) of the piston rod (5) a piston (8) is arranged, the piston being arranged moveably in a reciprocating manner in a thereto provided cavity (9) of the unloader (1), said cavity (9) being at least partially delimited by a lid (10) which is provided on the housing (2) and which is also part of the unloader (1), whereby sealing means (11) are provided for the leakage-free movement of the piston (8) in said cavity (9), whereby the cavity (9) in which the piston (8) is arranged moveably in a reciprocating manner is provided at least partially in the lid (10).

Abstract: A display system includes a head-mounted display configured to project light, having different amounts of wavefront divergence, to an eye of a user to display virtual image content appearing to be disposed at different depth planes. The wavefront divergence may be changed in discrete steps, with the change in steps being triggered based upon whether the user is fixating on a particular depth plane. The display system may be calibrated for switching depth planes for a main user. Upon determining that a guest user is utilizing the system, rather than undergoing a full calibration, the display system may be configured to switch depth planes based on a rough determination of the virtual content that the user is looking at. The virtual content has an associated depth plane and the display system may be configured to switch to the depth plane of that virtual content.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to produce 5-(halomethyl)furfural, including 5-(chloromethyl)furfural, by acid-catalyzed conversion of C6 saccharides, including isomers thereof, polymers thereof, and certain derivatives thereof. The methods make use of acids with lower concentrations, and allows for conversion of sugars into 5-(halomethyl)furfural at higher temperatures and faster reaction or residence times.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generation of forming instructions to form one or more three-dimensional (3D) objects. Generation of the forming instructions may include selection of one or more formation variables to form at least a portion of the one or more 3D objects. Generation of the forming instructions may include selection of a speed, feature, and/or an effect manifested in at least a portion of the formed one or more 3D objects. The forming variable(s) may be associated with a patch of a model of the 3D object.

Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for re-combustion of exhaust in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in order to increase the temperature of the exhaust for enhancing catalytic conversion within the multi-cylinder engine. In one example, a method may include expelling combusted gases from the cylinder into an intake manifold via an intake valve during an exhaust stroke, in order to rebreathe in the combusted gases from the intake manifold via the intake valve in a subsequent intake stroke.

Abstract: A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having lateral connector, a cushion with a pair of nozzles, and a clip to secure the cushion to the frame. The frame includes a vent channel and a plurality of vent holes. The frame/cushion includes structure (lugs/cut outs) to prevent the assembly of an unvented frame with an unvented cushion, for safety purposes. The frame includes cored portions that interface with corner lugs provided on the cushion. A patient interface includes a frame, a cushion (nasal mask, nasal-oro mask, nozzles, etc.) and a vent assembly including a pattern of vent holes including at least two rows.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and compensating for highly reflective targets such as retroreflectors in a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. In some embodiments, a bloom event (response) is detected in a detector output in response to the transmission and reflection of emitted light pulses against a target. A beam width of the emitted light pulses on the target is determined. The beam width is used to compensate at least a portion of the bloom response to obtain range information associated with the target. In this way, bloom compensation is provided without shutting down the capabilities of the LiDAR system in detecting the target causing the bloom, as well as in detecting other targets in the field of view.

Abstract: A computing system receives a plurality of game files corresponding to a plurality of games across a plurality of seasons. The computing system generates a prediction model configured to generate a possession value for an event. The computing system receives a target event, in real-time or near real-time, from a tracking system monitoring a target game. The computing system generates target features for the target event based on target event data associated with the target event. The computing system generates, via the prediction model, a target possession value for the target event based on the target event data and the target features. The target possession value represents a likelihood that a team with possession will score within a following x-seconds after the target event.

Abstract: Provided are a re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing systems and methods. A customer enters a check out and a transaction at the point of sale is started. The system receives a pairing request at a wallet processor from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application. This pairing request is created and sent in response to scanning of a code having a transaction identification. The system associates a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sends associated information to the point of sale. The point of sale sends an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor after completing scanning of items. The system creates an authorization for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer. The transaction may then be completed by processing payment.

Abstract: A request to generate a storage system model is received. The storage system model represents at least a portion of a storage system. In response to receiving the request, a storage system interface configuration is loaded. The storage system interface configuration comprises an attribute of an entity model. The attribute corresponds to an attribute of a storage system entity of the storage system. Further in response to receiving the request, the entity model is identified as representing the storage system entity. In response to identifying the entity model as representing the storage system entity, the entity model is instantiated.

Abstract: A temperature therapy system and a method for temperature control for such a temperature therapy system are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a temperature therapy system has a retention mechanism and a plurality of temperature modulation systems attached to the retention mechanism, wherein each of the plurality of temperature modulation systems comprises a thermoelectric cooler. The wearable personal temperature therapy system may have a plurality of temperature sensors and a plurality of conductive flags, wherein each of the plurality of conductive flags is adhered to a respective thermoelectric cooler and a respective temperature sensor.

Abstract: A passenger restraint system of a vehicle includes a passenger restraint article with an interface, and a locking device that secures the interface. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes a vertical channel that enables the locking device to travel up and down. The locking device may include a camera that enables the locking device to align with the interface, and once aligned, the locking device secures the interface. In additional or alternative embodiments, the locking device includes two C-bars and a biasing element that urges the locking device into an open position. When the passenger sits or leans against the opened C-bars, the force caused by the interface on the C-bars overcomes the force applied by the biasing element, urging the C-bars into a closed position. The locking device is then secured by engaging a locking bar that pushes against a surface of the C-bars.

Abstract: A timeline generation and solving tool is provided to parameterize a project at an application lifecycle management (“ALM”) tool, and generate and solve a timeline of features according to the parameterized project. The Scrum master may re-parameterize the project, causing a new timeline to be generated, solved, and visualized. In this fashion, the Scrum master may rapidly prototype many project parameterizations, resulting in many possible timelines. Without the use of a timeline generation and solving tool which interfaces with an ALM tool, retrieves project features, and converts project features to a common format suitable for computations based on working speeds, a Scrum master would need to generate and check a timeline by hand, and work indirectly by manually copying data out of the ALM tool, leading to a slow and potentially error-prone project roadmapping process which does not permit rapid prototyping of possible timelines.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing resolution in a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. In some embodiments, an emitter emits light in the form of multiplexed beams of randomized, multiple wavelengths across a field of view (FoV). A detector uses one or more detection channels to detect the multiplexed beams reflected from a target within the FoV to decode range information associated with the target. The multiplexed beams may be generated by multiple light sources such as laser diodes, or a single source such as a frequency comb device. Randomization may be applied via a pseudorandom bit sequence modulator, and multiplexing/demultiplexing may be performed using waveguides and micro-resonance rings (MRRs). The multiplexed beam may be emitted using an optical phase array (OPA) integrated circuit device to scan the FoV simultaneously using the different wavelengths. The range information can be used to adaptively adjust the wavelengths in a subsequent scan.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a sensor node in communication with a communication network, an evacuation condition, retrieving by a decision node, occupancy information pertaining to an area, retrieving area data, and determining an evacuation route, at least in part using the evacuation condition, occupancy information, and area data, and communicating the determined evacuation route to area occupants.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for combining downlink signals representative of a communication signal are provided herein. An example method comprises receiving the downlink signals from antenna feeds. In a first processing block(s) in a processor(s), performing a first blind detection operation on first packets of a first signal, and performing a first doppler compensation operation on the first packets. In a second processing block(s) in the processor(s) in parallel with the first processing block(s), performing a second blind detection operation on second packets of a second signal, and performing a second doppler compensation operation on the second packets. The method also comprises combining the first signal and the second signal based on (i) aligning the first data packets with the second data packets and (ii) performing a weighted combiner operation that applies scaling to the first and second packets based on corresponding signal quality.

Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: receiving a plurality of sensed signals indicating variations in mutual capacitance associated with a plurality of cross points formed by a plurality of electrodes; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes positive capacitance variation data corresponding to positive variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value and negative capacitance variation data corresponding to negative variations of the capacitance image data from the nominal value; determining, based on the positive capacitance variation data and the negative capacitance variation data, an upper threshold and a lower threshold; generating compensated capacitance image data, based on the upper threshold and the lower threshold, to compensate for noise in the capacitance image data; and processing the compensated capacitance image data to determine a proximal condition of the touch screen display.