Abstract: A mortise lock and motor-assisted method of operating. The mortise lock comprises a case, a lever arm, a latch bolt having a linkage, a PCB having a controller and a microprocessor, and a motor assembly. An actuating element including a projection is disposed outside the motor assembly to move the latch bolt from the extended to retracted positions. The microprocessor is configured to detect a stall signal during the motor assembly's initial cycle operation indicating failure of a latch bolt retraction parameter. Upon detection of the stall signal, the controller causes the motor assembly to perform a second cycle operation to move the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: Arrays of photovoltaic modules produce power as a result of incident solar radiation. The amount of radiation reaching a solar cell can be decreased due to light-blocking matter adhering to the module surface. The light-blocking or soiling matter can be snow, dirt, or other particulates such as pollen or excrement, and can be detected on the module surface using visible light photography. We have developed an automated image processing routine to estimate the power loss on a photovoltaic array due to partial surface shading, soiling or coverage from time-series visible light photographs. This tool can inform the design of PV systems optimized for particular operating environments, resulting in more efficient PV systems, can be used to inform the development of new technologies, such as anti-soiling coatings, and can help validate the accuracy of PV performance models in locations that see high rates of soiling.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a thermionic emission device and a method for tuning a work function in a thermionic emission device is provided. The method includes illuminating an N type semiconductor material of a first member of a thermionic emission device, wherein a work function of the N type semiconductor material is lowered by the illuminating. The method includes collecting, on one of the first member or a second member of the thermionic emission device, electrons emitted from one of the first member or the second member.

Abstract: A mortise lock and motor-assisted method of operating. The mortise lock comprises a case, a lever arm, a latch bolt having a linkage, a PCB having a controller and a microprocessor, and a motor assembly. An actuating element including a projection is disposed outside the motor assembly to move the latch bolt from the extended to retracted positions. The microprocessor is configured to detect a stall signal during the motor assembly's initial cycle operation indicating failure of a latch bolt retraction parameter. Upon detection of the stall signal, the controller causes the motor assembly to perform a second cycle operation to move the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for solar tracking and controlling an angular position of a photovoltaic power system. The solar tracking system includes an imaging device for capturing images of the sky; a solar position data generating module; and a control system comprising a neural network. The neural network has multiple convolutional layers to generate a first output associated with the images, and a solar position data module. A first dense layer module receives the solar position data and generates a second output. A second dense layer module receives the first output and the second output and generates a concatenated data sequence. A processor is programmed to generate a multi-planar irradiance signal (MPIS) in response to the concatenated data sequence, and determine an angular position of the PV power system and adjust the angular position in response to an angle of maximum irradiance.

Abstract: An environmental control unit including a particulate filter located within an airstream, the filter created with an additive manufacturing device that creates at least one of randomly sized layering of the filter and randomly oriented layering of the filter to provide for impeding varying sized particulates from passing through the filter.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a thermionic emission device and a method for tuning a work function in a thermionic emission device is provided. The method includes illuminating an N type semiconductor material of a first member of a thermionic emission device, wherein a work function of the N type semiconductor material is lowered by the illuminating. The method includes collecting, on one of the first member or a second member of the thermionic emission device, electrons emitted from one of the first member or the second member.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a thermionic emission device and a method for tuning a work function in a thermionic emission device is provided. The method includes illuminating an N type semiconductor material of a first member of a thermionic emission device, wherein a work function of the N type semiconductor material is lowered by the illuminating. The method includes collecting, on one of the first member or a second member of the thermionic emission device, electrons emitted from one of the first member or the second member.

Abstract: An anti-ligature handle and escutcheon mechanism mountable on a door for operating a lock for securing the door. The mechanism comprises a handle movable between open and closed positions, the handle having a smoothly curved outer surface to prevent the attachment of a ligature thereto and comprising a pivot at a first end for rotating the handle between the open and closed positions to operate the lock. An escutcheon fixed relative to a backing plate is oriented for mounting parallel to the door when the mechanism is mounted on an outer surface of the door, wherein the escutcheon surrounds the handle and defines a recessed area within which the handle pivots. The handle further has a second end including a guide which is trapped beneath and slides along an arcuate edge of the recessed area of the escutcheon to maintain flush contact between a mating surface of the handle and the backing plate to prevent ligatures from being inserted therebetween as the handle rotates to operate the lock.

Abstract: An anti-ligature handle and escutcheon mechanism mountable on a door for operating a lock for securing the door. The mechanism comprises a handle movable between open and closed positions, the handle having a smoothly curved outer surface to prevent the attachment of a ligature thereto and comprising a pivot at a first end for rotating the handle between the open and closed positions to operate the lock. An escutcheon fixed relative to a backing plate is oriented for mounting parallel to the door when the mechanism is mounted on an outer surface of the door, wherein the escutcheon surrounds the handle and defines a recessed area within which the handle pivots. The handle further has a second end including a guide which is trapped beneath and slides along an arcuate edge of the recessed area of the escutcheon to maintain flush contact between a mating surface of the handle and the backing plate to prevent ligatures from being inserted therebetween as the handle rotates to operate the lock.

Abstract: A method including breaking down a component with a recycler to reduce the component to a recycled material composition that includes an original material of the component and debris that attached to the component during prior use, applying the recycled material composition within an additive manufacturing device to create a recycled component, and producing the recycled component from the additive manufacturing device, the recycled component material composition includes both the original material of the component and the debris attached to the component.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to providing prognosis and health management (PHM) of a photovoltaic (PV) system. A PV PHM system can eliminate long-standing issues associated with detecting performance reduction in PV systems. The PV PHM system can utilize an ANN model with meteorological and power input data to facilitate alert generation in the event of a performance reduction without the need for information about the PV PHM system components and design. Comparisons between system data and the PHM model can provide scheduling of maintenance on an as-needed basis. The PHM can also provide an approach for monitoring system/component degradation over the lifetime of the PV system.

Abstract: A method including breaking down a component with a recycler to reduce the component to a recycled material composition that includes an original material of the component and debris that attached to the component during prior use, applying the recycled material composition within an additive manufacturing device to create a recycled component, and producing the recycled component from the additive manufacturing device, the recycled component material composition includes both the original material of the component and the debris attached to the component.

Abstract: A product display for use on a shelf is disclosed. The product display includes a bottom member and at least one angled member. The bottom member includes a track. The track is configured to support a plurality of products thereon. The at least one angled member is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the track. The at least one angled member positions the track at an angle with respect to an axis defined by the shelf. The angle is greater than 0°.

Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods related to lawn implements for use in landscaping. Devices including lawn implements such as rollers, stripers, dethatchers, aerators, and lawn spreaders adapted to be selectively coupled to a walk-behind lawn implement, such as a walk-behind lawn mower. A receiver system is provided to be coupled to or as a part of the walk-behind lawn implement. In use, the devices coupled to the walk-behind lawn implement are preferably disposed beneath the handle of the implement.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus are provided for fake fingerprint detection. In one embodiment, an apparatus for fake fingerprint detection includes a prism having a first side configured to be touched by a fingerprint, an IR LED located near the second side of the prism, a light source located near the third side of the prism, where both the IR LED and the light source are configured to illuminate the fingerprint simultaneously to produce a captured image of the fingerprint, one or more lenses configured to direct the captured image of the fingerprint for storage, one or more CMOS sensors configured to collect the captured image of the fingerprint for analysis, and a controller configured to determine validity of the fingerprint using the captured image.

Abstract: A single, common correlation filter (CF) core is provided in a receiver for recovery of data from received code division multiple access (CDMA) signals. Signals are received over CDMA channels with different data rates, where the received signals include user information such as pilot and data symbols that have been spread according to different despreading rates including tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 rates, where tier 1 is the smallest despreading rate. The received signal is correlated at the smallest despreading rate in the correlation filter (CF) by time multiplexing delayed versions of the pseudorandom noise (PN) code. The correlated information is then demultiplexed and pilot-aided QPSK demodulated. The demodulated information is summed at the proper integer multiple of the tier 1 rate to achieve tier 2 and tier 3 despreading rates. According to an embodiment, the three strongest multipaths components in terms of the received power are selected in a window or time period for optimal information recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A kit for a display and dispenser track assembly for dispensing products of single width, packs of double width, and simultaneously alternately products and packs. The display track defines a plurality of fixed partitions, each adjacent pair thereof establishing a pack path of double width, and an upstanding pack stop at the front of each pack path. The kit provides at least one insertable and removable partition receivable on the display track for converting a single pack path of double width into two adjacent product paths of single width, with a pair of oppositely directed hoop stops of single width at the front of each such product path.