Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents, share policy information, and/or comply with an audit. The data security techniques disclosed herein also enable the use of smart contracts to transfer funds associated with payment obligations and/or other forms of blockchain based payments, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, report industry data, validate interest payments and/or maintain agent sales data. Data security may be achieved through the use of public key/private key encryption techniques.

Abstract: Enclosures for deep ocean or other high exterior pressure environment including a dome window with an angular measurement of between 164 and 178 degrees, a structure housing, a dome support ring, and a compliance material positioned between the dome support ring and housing are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a data processing system includes detecting a droop in a power supply voltage of a functional circuit of the data processing system greater than a programmable droop threshold. An operation of the data processing system is throttled according to a programmable step size, a programmable assertion time, and a programmable de-assertion time in response to detecting the droop.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to share policy information. The policy information may be associated with a smart contract. Accordingly, the policy information may be encrypted using a public key for the smart contract and compiled into a block of the blockchain. In response to a request to provide access to the information to a particular node, the private key for the smart contract may be encrypted using the public key for the particular node and compiled into a block of the blockchain.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a blockchain comprising a plurality of immutable sales records corresponding to sales made by agents of an entity are provided. According to certain aspects, a transaction request indicating a sale made by an agent of the entity may be received at a first node. A block including a sales record indicating the sale made by the agent may be added to a blockchain and transmitted to another node for validation. The first node may add the block to a copy of the blockchain, where the block may be identified by a hash value that references a previous block in the blockchain that includes at least one additional sales record.

Abstract: Methods of additively manufacturing a manufactured component and systems that perform the methods. The methods include determining an energy application parameter at an addition location on a previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The energy application parameter includes an intersection area relationship that describes an area of intersection between the previously formed portion and a surface of a virtual geometric shape, which is positioned at the addition location, as a function of a size parameter of the virtual geometric shape. The methods also include supplying a feedstock material to the addition location. The methods further include delivering an amount of energy sufficient to form a melt pool of the feedstock material at the addition location. The amount of energy is based, at least in part, on the energy application parameter. The methods also include consolidating the melt pool with a previously formed portion of the manufactured component.

Abstract: Methods of additively manufacturing a manufactured component and systems that perform the methods. The methods include determining an energy application parameter at an addition location on a previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The methods also include supplying a feedstock material to the addition location. The methods further include delivering, from an energy source and to the addition location, an amount of energy sufficient to form a melt pool of the feedstock material at the addition location. The amount of energy is based, at least in part, on the energy application parameter. The methods also include consolidating the melt pool with a previously formed portion to form an additional portion of the manufactured component. The delivering includes delivering the amount of energy to the addition location along an axis of incidence, and the energy application parameter includes a directionality parameter that is based on the axis of incidence.

Abstract: Methods of additively manufacturing a manufactured component and systems that perform the methods. The methods include determining an energy application parameter at an addition location on a previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The energy application parameter includes an overlap volume between a virtual geometric shape, which is positioned at the addition location, and the previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The methods also include supplying a feedstock material to the addition location. The methods further include delivering, from an energy source and to the addition location, an amount of energy sufficient to form a melt pool of the feedstock material at the addition location. The amount of energy is based, at least in part, on the energy application parameter. The methods also include consolidating the melt pool with a previously formed portion of the manufactured component to form an additional portion of the manufactured component.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents, share policy information, and/or comply with an audit. The data security techniques disclosed herein also enable the use of smart contracts to transfer funds associated with payment obligations and/or other forms of blockchain based payments, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, report industry data, validate interest payments and/or maintain agent sales data. Data security may be achieved through the use of public key/private key encryption techniques.

Abstract: A method includes flowing gas within a chamber for first process parameters at a predetermined point in a laser focal plane and simulating the step of flowing gas within the chamber based on the value of the flow characteristic of the gas at the predetermined point in the laser focal plane so that a value of a simulated-flow characteristic of the gas at a predetermined point away from the laser focal plane is identified. The method comprises comparing the value of the simulated-flow characteristic of gas at the predetermined point away from the laser focal plane to a desired value of the simulated-flow characteristic and flowing gas within the chamber for second differing process parameters, when the value of the simulated-flow characteristic of the gas at the predetermined point away from the laser focal plane differs from the desired value of the simulated-flow characteristic is outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing system includes one or more processors configured to determine one or more geometrical characteristics of each of multiple segments of a build part at a candidate position of the build part relative to an additive manufacturing instrument. The geometrical characteristics include an angle of incidence between a beam line extending from a beam emitter and a surface normal of a respective skin of the corresponding segment proximate to the beam line. The one or more processors select, based on the determined geometrical characteristics, a first set of beam parameters for forming a first segment of the build part and a second set of beam parameters for forming a second segment of the build part. At least one of the beam parameters in the second set differs from the beam parameters in the first set.

Abstract: Camera heads including multiple imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) for inspecting pipes or cavities are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of configuring an additive-manufacturing machine comprises a chamber, a platform, movable inside the chamber and comprising a build-plane surface, and a laser, having a laser focal plane within the chamber. The method comprising steps of flowing a gas within the chamber in accordance with a first set of process parameters and identifying a value of a flow characteristic of the gas at a predetermined point in the laser focal plane while flowing the gas within the chamber in accordance with the first set of process parameters. The method also comprises additively manufacturing a test coupon using the laser while flowing the gas within the chamber in accordance with the first set of process parameters, wherein the test coupon has a test-coupon peripheral surface.

Abstract: Lights with features for underwater use that provide tailored beam-width and/or other tailored light patterns are disclosed. One embodiment includes a housing having a front end with a port and a back end, a port window having a plurality of lens features positioned at the front end of the housing within or behind the port, and a circuit element, including a plurality of LED lighting elements, positioned behind the window.

Abstract: Electrical contact assemblies for use in rotating video camera heads are disclosed. A contact assembly may include a first element movable relative to the camera head's housing on which an imager is disposed, a second element rotationally movable relative to the first element, and a slip ring including one or more PCB brush elements to transfer imager signals to an output connector.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes one or more processors configured to determine one or more geometrical characteristics of each of multiple segments of a build part at a candidate position relative to an additive manufacturing instrument. The one or more geometrical characteristics include an angle of incidence between a beam line extending from a beam source and a surface normal of a respective skin of the corresponding segment proximate to the beam line. The one or more processors are configured to control the additive manufacturing instrument, based on the one or more geometrical characteristics, to direct focused energy beams from a first orientation relative to the build part to form a first segment of the segments of the build part and to direct focused energy beams from a second orientation relative to the build part to form a second segment of the segments of the build part.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes one or more processors configured to determine one or more geometrical characteristics of each of multiple segments of a build part at a candidate position of the build part relative to an additive manufacturing instrument. The one or more geometrical characteristics include an angle of incidence between a beam line extending from an electromagnetic energy source of the additive manufacturing instrument and a surface normal of a respective skin of the corresponding segment proximate to the beam line. The one or more processors are configured to determine, based on one or more geometrical characteristics of the segments at the candidate position, one or more locations of support material to be formed adjacent the build part during a build process of the build part.

Abstract: Pressure relief valves for use in high pressure underwater applications that may include a plunger, a body with a mating surface corresponding to the shape of a mating surface sub-section of the plunger, and one or more sealing elements, such as a pair of O-rings, are disclosed.

Abstract: Push-cables and associated apparatus for pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a pipe inspection system includes a camera head, a push-cable including an outer covering enclosing a plurality of electrical conductors for transmitting signals and/or power between the camera head and an electronic device operatively coupled to the push-cable, and a spring assembly disposed about the push-cable near the distal end where the spring assembly comprises a spring with a tapered flex section having a varying cross-sectional area and/or a varying cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: Pipe inspection systems including cameras and camera control units (CCU) are disclosed. A CCU may include a switching circuit for automatically controlling power to elements of the CCU in response to movement of a display cover. A display of the CCU may display captured images and/or video, which may be integrated with data provided by a buried object locator or other device. The CCU may include a retractable kickstand assembly and a stowable handle, which may be removably attached to a cable storage reel.