Abstract: In an example embodiment, a plant light reflection apparatus may comprise two opposing reflector panels configured to reflect light, wherein each reflector panel may comprise one or more pieces of reflection material. A reflector support apparatus may be configured to support the at least two opposing reflector panels, and may comprise a central section configured to accept one or more plants. The bottom major edges of the one or more pieces of reflection material of the two opposing reflector panels may be disposed in proximity to main stems of the one or more plants in the central section, and to reflect light thereon.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multi-hand video poker game in which the hands are displayed as an arrangement. One or more modifiers are applied to at least one row or column of the arrangement. All the hands are evaluated against one or more paytables and awards are determined. The awards for the hands that have applied modifiers are modified based on the respective modifier.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).

Abstract: Embodiments provide an electric lug loader system. An electric lug loader may include a shaft assembly rotatably mounted to a frame that extends across a flow path. The shaft assembly may have shafts arranged radially around, and parallel to, the rotational axis of the shaft assembly, clamp members arranged along each of the shafts, support members arranged radially around the rotational axis and across the flow path, and electric drives coupled to the shafts. Conveyors may be coupled with the frame and spaced apart across the flow path upstream and/or downstream of the shaft assembly. Additional drives may be coupled with the shaft assembly and the conveyors. A controller may be configured to synchronize the drives to engage successive workpieces between the clamp members and the support members and deposit the workpieces onto a lugged conveyor. Other embodiments provide related methods and systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a cross runner of a suspended ceiling grid is provided, wherein the cross runner may comprise a light fixture configured to function as a cross runner, and the light fixture may comprise a light guide.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a flexible light fixture may be provided. The example embodiment may comprise a reflector panel comprising two substantially parallel opposing outer flanges and a flexible central portion, wherein the distance between the opposing outer flanges may be X. The example embodiment may also comprise a lens with two opposing edges wherein each opposing edge may be configured with an attachment feature configured for attachment to corresponding opposing outer flanges of the reflector panel, and wherein the distance between the opposing edges of the lens may be a distance Y, wherein distance Y may be less than distance X. When the opposing outer flanges of the reflector panel are compressed laterally together a distance that is at least distance Y and engaged by the corresponding lens attachment features, the flexible central portion of the reflector panel may be engaged in a curved compressed state.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system and method provide The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods that concurrently display one or more aspects of a primary game and a play of a secondary game within the limited display space available of an electronic gaming machine with a single display device.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an electric lug loader system. An electric lug loader may include a shaft assembly rotatably mounted to a frame that extends across a flow path. The shaft assembly may have shafts arranged radially around, and parallel to, the rotational axis of the shaft assembly, clamp members arranged along each of the shafts, support members arranged radially around the rotational axis and across the flow path, and electric drives coupled to the shafts. Conveyors may be coupled with the frame and spaced apart across the flow path upstream and/or downstream of the shaft assembly. Additional drives may be coupled with the shaft assembly and the conveyors. A controller may be configured to synchronize the drives to engage successive workpieces between the clamp members and the support members and deposit the workpieces onto a lugged conveyor. Other embodiments provide related methods and systems.

Abstract: A method for detecting and mitigating excessive clutch disc wear for a manual transmission includes determining if a clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a first predetermined pedal position threshold and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold. The method further includes determining if the clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a second predetermined pedal position threshold when the clutch pedal position is depressed less than the first predetermined pedal position threshold. The method still further includes calculating a clutch disc heat flux value and a clutch disc surface temperature. The method further includes displaying an alert/warning and a remedial action message to a vehicle operator when the clutch disc surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined surface temperature threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an electric lug loader system. An electric lug loader may include a shaft assembly rotatably mounted to a frame that extends across a flow path. The shaft assembly may have shafts arranged radially around, and parallel to, the rotational axis of the shaft assembly, clamp members arranged along each of the shafts, support members arranged radially around the rotational axis and across the flow path, and electric drives coupled to the shafts. Conveyors may be coupled with the frame and spaced apart across the flow path upstream and/or downstream of the shaft assembly. Additional drives may be coupled with the shaft assembly and the conveyors. A controller may be configured to synchronize the drives to engage successive workpieces between the clamp members and the support members and deposit the workpieces onto a lugged conveyor. Other embodiments provide related methods and systems.

Abstract: A phase modulation (PM) noise reducer to reduce phase modulation noise of an oscillator, the PM noise reducer including: an amplitude modulation (AM) detector to receive a primary oscillator signal and to produce an AM detector signal based on the primary oscillator signal, the primary oscillator signal including a first phase modulation (PM) noise; a control circuit in electrical communication with the AM detector to receive the AM detector signal and to produce a control signal; a phase shifter in electrical communication with the control circuit to receive the primary oscillator signal and the control signal and to produce a secondary oscillator signal based on the primary oscillator signal and the control signal, the secondary oscillator signal comprising a second PM noise, wherein the second PM noise is less than the first PM noise.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system and method provide The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods that concurrently display one or more aspects of a primary game and a play of a secondary game within the limited display space available of an electronic gaming machine with a single display device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the sharing of digital imaging effects from an image originator to an image recipient. A digital imaging effect is the result of a processing technique that is applied to a digital image in a way that produces a particular visual effect. The processing techniques that underlie digital imaging effects such as these can be defined by parameters that establish how the individual pixels comprising the image are manipulated to achieve the desired visual effect. In certain embodiments such defining parameters can be incorporated into a digital image file that thus contains not only data defining the image itself, but also parameters that define one or more effects that may have been applied to the image. This advantageously allows a recipient of the digital image file to not only view the image, but also to use the incorporated parameters to apply the effect to other images.

Abstract: An example embodiment of substrate tensioning system is disclosed that may comprise a frame including four sides and channels, wherein the channels may comprise a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, and an edge truss retention feature. The substrate tensioning system may further comprise at least one substrate including four major edges and a first surface, wherein each major edge is configured with one or more edge trusses configured from corresponding folds in the at least one substrate, such that the edge trusses may be configured at an angle relative to the first surface of the substrate. The at least one substrate may attach to the frame, wherein each edge truss may nest inside, and be secured inside a corresponding frame channel, wherein a perimeter edge of each outermost edge truss may be engaged by the corresponding frame channel's edge truss retention feature.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system and method provide The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods that concurrently display one or more aspects of a primary game and a play of a secondary game within the limited display space available of an electronic gaming machine with a single display device.

Abstract: A method for detecting and mitigating excessive clutch disc wear for a manual transmission includes determining if a clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a first predetermined pedal position threshold and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold. The method further includes determining if the clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a second predetermined pedal position threshold when the clutch pedal position is depressed less than the first predetermined pedal position threshold. The method still further includes calculating a clutch disc heat flux value and a clutch disc surface temperature. The method further includes displaying an alert/warning and a remedial action message to a vehicle operator when the clutch disc surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined surface temperature threshold.

Abstract: An off-road chair comprises a U-shaped chassis configured to receive a rider in a wheel chair type (manual or electric); at least one wheel attached to the chassis; and a floor section. The floor section is configured to attach to the bottom of the U-shaped chassis and to provide a floor; be lowered to provide a ramp for the rider to get on the floor section; and be raised to attach to a bottom part of the U-shaped chassis. The U-shaped chassis is configured to receive a wheel chair type (manual or electric) carrying the rider. The off-road chair further comprises a front bumper attached to a front of the U-shaped chassis, wherein the front bumper is configured to swing up with respect to the U-shaped chassis, enabling the rider to get on the floor section; and be lowered to lock to the chassis and protect the rider.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a cross runner of a suspended ceiling grid is provided, wherein the cross runner may comprise a light fixture configured to function as a cross runner, and the light fixture may comprise a light guide.