Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of a first portion of an engine, and related circuit, and related method of operation, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the system includes a wheel having a plurality of magnetic teeth, and an electrical circuit including a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) including at least one winding, the VRS being positioned proximate the wheel, where the VRS is in thermal contact with the first portion, and a comparator having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, where the comparator is configured to output an output signal at the output terminal. Either the output signal or a further signal generated by the electrical circuit is at least indirectly indicative of a resistance of the at least one winding, whereby an indication of the temperature of the first portion can be determined based upon the output signal or further signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuits for determining one or more switch statuses are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a system for determining a status of a switch having first and second terminals includes a first port configured to be coupled to the first terminal, a second port configured to be coupled to the second terminal, and a capacitor coupled between the first port and ground. Additionally, the system includes a comparator device having first and second input ports and an output port, the first input port being coupled at least indirectly to the first port, a current source coupled to the first input port, and a voltage source coupled between the second port and the second input port. The comparator device is configured to provide an output signal at the output port that is at least sometimes indicative of the status of the switch.

Abstract: Implementations of a toilet installation guide and methods for installing a toilet. Implementations of toilet installation guides may include a shaft including a bolt receiving portion configured to receive a portion of a bolt and align a length of the shaft with a length of the bolt, a taper configured to be passed through the installation hole of the toilet while lowering the toilet toward the floor, and a visual aid configured to be seen through a toilet installation hole as an installer attempts to lower the toilet onto the floor over the bolt. In implementations the shaft may selectively couple to and decouple from the bolt with threads located on an inner wall of a cylindrical opening in the shaft. In implementations the toilet installation guide may be configured to be installed and uninstalled by hand, before and after lowering the toilet to the floor, respectively, to be reused.

Abstract: An ignition control device having an Electronic Fuel Injection mode and a Capacitive Discharge ignition mode is described. The ignition control device comprises: an output for providing an output voltage, connected or connectable to a load, the load being a fuel injection actuator of an EFI system or an ignition capacitor of a CDI system; and a driver unit connected to the output, for driving the output voltage from a low level to a high level and from the high level to the low level in dependence on an input signal, each transition of the output voltage from the low level to the high level having a low-to-high transition time which is longer for the CDI mode than for the EFI mode.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuits for determining one or more switch statuses are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a system includes a first port configured to be coupled to a switch, a capacitor, a comparator having first and second input ports and an output port, a current source coupled to the first input port, and a control component. The first input port is coupled to the first port and a threshold voltage if applied to the second input port. The control component is configured so that, in at least one circumstance, it causes the current source to cease driving the current in response to receiving an indication from the output port indicating that an additional voltage applied to the first input port has changed from being less than the threshold voltage to being greater than that voltage, the indication being indicative of the switch status.

Abstract: A fixture retains a housing in a fixed position relative to an imaging device. The housing has an aperture through which a surface recessed into the housing is aligned with the imaging device by the fixture. A planar electroluminescent illuminator is held in the fixture within a pocket of the fixture in which the housing is received. The illuminator uniformly emits light in response to electrical power applied thereto and the illuminator has an aperture formed therein held in alignment by the fixture with the aperture in the housing such that the light emitted by the illuminator is directed towards the recessed surface. An imaging device generates an image of the recessed surface through the aperture in the housing and the aperture in the illuminator.

Abstract: Provided are articles useful for rapidly and easily stopping leaks of material contained in conduits, such as water pipes under pressure. Articles according to this disclosure include a band, a lock and a lever. The band is wrapped around the conduit or pipe, and the lever is configured to engage with an end of the band and the lock that rides on the band. Manually, pulling the remaining end of the band and then actuating the lever, or vice versa, cinches the band around the outer circumference of the conduit, effectively sealing the conduit wall and preventing the contents of the conduit from leaking into the ambient surroundings. Elements of the invention cooperate to permit easy removal of the articles for re-use.

Abstract: A circuit includes an evaluation node through which current flows from a voltage source node to a sensed switch when the sensed switch is closed. First and second control switches are disposed between the voltage source node and the evaluation node to switch between first and second current paths for the current. The current passes through the first control switch when flowing along the first current path. The second control switch is coupled to a control terminal of the first control switch to deactivate the first control switch and allow the current to flow through the second current path. Multiple passive circuit elements are configured to establish first and second current levels for the current. The passive circuit elements are disposed between the voltage source node and the evaluation node in a circuit arrangement in which no current path to ground is present when the sensed switch is open.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include systems with a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) interface and methods of their operation. Embodiments of VRS interfaces include a clearing signal generator configured to generate a clearing signal corresponding with the timing of a noise event. The clearing signal may be configured to clear a post-processing circuit.

Abstract: Compositions are provided for lubricant base stocks produced from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510° C.+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks that are resistant to haze formation.

Abstract: A method of undervoltage detection includes detecting a voltage level for a power supply of a system, placing the system in an undervoltage state if the voltage level is below an undervoltage threshold, activating a load of the system at a first power level if the detected voltage level exceeds a first activation threshold and if the system resides in the undervoltage state, and activating the load at a second power level if the detected voltage level exceeds a second activation threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an ability to selectively couple one of the output of the buffer or the output of the digital driver to a data terminal based upon a state of a storage location in which a stored first select indicator is stored and based upon a state of a selection signal. An external serial interface, at a semiconductor die, includes the data terminal, a selection terminal to receive the selection signal, and a clock terminal to receive a clock signal. A buffer includes an input to receive a secondary signal and an output to provide the secondary signal to the data terminal. A digital driver includes a digital output coupled to the data terminal. A first storage location has a storage state based upon the stored first select indicator. Select circuitry provides the selectively coupling.

Abstract: A buffer or voltage protection circuit, a circuit including same, and an associated method of operation are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the integrated circuit includes a first input terminal, a first circuit portion having a second input terminal, and a second circuit portion. The second circuit portion includes a transistor device having first, second, and third ports, where the first and second ports are respectively electrically coupled to the first input terminal and second input terminal, respectively. Additionally, the second circuit portion also includes a diode-type device that is electrically coupled between the third port and either a power source or a power input terminal, and a buffer/driver circuit and a capacitor coupled in series between the third and second ports. The second circuit portion operates to prevent the second input terminal from being exposed to an undesirably-high voltage level.

Abstract: A downhole tool is conveyed within a borehole extending into a subterranean formation. A void is created in a sidewall of the borehole by extending a rotating member from the downhole tool into the sidewall. A portion of the sidewall surrounding the void is mechanically compressed, and the viscosity of hydrocarbons in the subterranean formation proximate the void is reduced by injecting a fluid from the downhole tool into the formation via the void. Fluid comprising the reduced viscosity hydrocarbons and the injected fluid may then be drawn from the subterranean formation into the downhole tool.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in cooling a flow of compressed gas with a flow of cooling fluid includes a body portion having a first end, a second end, and a space between the first end and the second end. A tube bundle includes a first tube sheet, a second tube sheet, and a plurality of tubes extending between the first tube sheet and the second tube sheet. The tube bundle is insertable into the space from either the first end or the second end. A first head includes an inlet and an outlet, the first head connected to the first end and connectable to the second end and a second head is connected to the second end and connectable to the first end such that cooling fluid enters the inlet, passes through a portion of the plurality of tubes, contacts the second head and flows through a second portion of the plurality of tubes to the outlet.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having normal and special operating modes includes a mode entry interlock (201) which is enabled by an initialization command and an externally supplied voltage at a first I/O terminal (204) to detect a conflict at the I/O terminal for reducing the likelihood of inadvertent entry into the special operating mode. The mode entry interlock also includes a second I/O terminal (212) for receiving a disassociated software command to enter into the special operating mode, and mode control logic (210, 216) for evaluating the received software command against any detected conflict at the I/O terminal to generate a special operating mode enable signal in response to receiving the first and second input signals only when the detected logic state conflicts with the first logic state.

Abstract: A method to determine the model-of-composition of a vacuum resid in which the resid is separated into fractions including the DAO fraction which is then separated into chemical classes including saturates, aromatics, sulfides and polars by a combination of soft ionization methods. The results of the ionization analysis are reconciled with other analysis such as bulk analysis, then consolidated to generate the modeol-of composition.

Abstract: A method of processor operation using an integrated circuit (IC) can include loading encrypted program code into the IC through a configuration port of the IC and decrypting the encrypted program code using configuration circuitry of the IC. Decryption of the encrypted program code can result in decrypted program code which can be provided to a target destination.