Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers that are capable of generating increased levels of ultrasound, as well as receiving ultrasonic waves with increased sensitivity. The ultrasonic transducers include a back cover, a protective front cover, a backplate, and a vibrator film layer disposed between the backplate and the protective front cover. The backplate includes a plurality of grooves formed on a surface thereof facing the vibrator film layer. Each groove includes upper edges having cross-sectional contours that gradually tend toward the deepest part of the groove to allow a larger area of the backplate to be closer to the vibrator film layer, thereby increasing the resulting electric field, and, consequently, increasing the output power and sensitivity of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a configure, price, quote (CPQ) platform are provided. The techniques include obtaining a set of component configurations for a set of components in the CPQ platform and a system definition for a system in the CPQ platform. The component configurations include a set of component attributes for the components and a first set of attribute values for the component attributes. The system definition includes a system attribute of the system, the components, and a set of rules to be applied to the component attributes and the system attribute. Next, the rules are applied to the first set of attribute values to produce a second set of attribute values for the system attribute and the component attributes. A system configuration for the system is then outputted, wherein the first system configuration includes the second set of attribute values.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers that include backplates with a plurality of linear physical features formed on surfaces thereof and vibrator films tensioned in a specified manner for improved transducer performance. An ultrasonic transducer includes a backplate, a vibrator film, and a compliant member. The backplate includes the plurality of linear physical features formed parallel to one another on the backplate surface. The vibrator film has a metallized side and a non-metallized side, and is positioned proximate to the backplate such that its non-metallized side faces the linear physical features on the backplate surface. The compliant member applies a spring force to the vibrator film for urging the vibrator film against the backplate surface, while maintaining a constant, consistent, and uniform tension in the vibrator film in substantially one direction, preferably perpendicular to the linear physical features along the backplate surface.

Abstract: An improved multi-pole circuit interrupter includes an improved trip deck assembly adjacent one pole and further includes an accessory deck adjacent another pole. The accessory deck includes conventional accessory devices such as an auxiliary switch, etc., and the trip deck assembly includes switches and one or more other devices that can interact with a crossbar and a trip bar of the circuit interrupter. Such switches can be easily installed by a technician in the field after manufacture of the circuit interrupter. One switch is held in place by a support, and the other switch is held in place by a retainer, with the support and the retainer holding the switches in a fixed position on the trip deck assembly in order to interact with the crossbar and the trip bar.

Abstract: A restraint system is used to restrain a movable switch blade of a disconnect switch in order to prevent accidental closure of the switch blade. In this regard, the restraint system has a sheath that is positioned over an end of the switch blade, and the sheath is tethered to a support structure so that tension in the tether resists movement of the switch blade toward a conductive jaw. Thus, current is prevented from flowing through the disconnect switch until the sheath is manually removed from the switch blade.

Abstract: An IC for power conversion includes bias circuitry that generates one or more bias voltages. An adaptive biasing circuit adaptively shifts an input signal having a negative value to a positive value. An operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) receives a supply bias current and the first and second bias voltages. The OTA has first and second input terminals coupled to the input signal and ground, respectively. The OTA has first and second transistors coupled to the first and second input terminals through first and second resistors at first and second internal nodes, respectively. Additional circuitry of the OTA is coupled to the second internal node. The additional circuitry insures that the voltage at the second internal node follows the voltage at the first internal node. The OTA generates an output current signal responsive to a differential input voltage applied across the first and second input terminals.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers that are capable of generating increased levels of ultrasound, as well as receiving ultrasonic waves with increased sensitivity. The ultrasonic transducers include a back cover, a protective front cover, a backplate, and a vibrator film layer disposed between the backplate and the protective front cover. The backplate includes a plurality of grooves formed on a surface thereof facing the vibrator film layer. Each groove includes upper edges having cross-sectional contours that gradually tend toward the deepest part of the groove to allow a larger area of the backplate to be closer to the vibrator film layer, thereby increasing the resulting electric field, and, consequently, increasing the output power and sensitivity of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers that include membrane films and perforated baseplates. An ultrasonic transducer includes a baseplate having a conductive surface with a plurality of apertures, openings, or perforations formed thereon or therethrough, and a membrane film having a conductive surface. The membrane film is positioned adjacent to the apertures, openings, or perforations formed on or through the baseplate. By applying a voltage between the conductive surface of the membrane film and the conductive surface of the baseplate, an electrical force of attraction can be created between the membrane film and the baseplate. Varying this applied voltage can cause the membrane film to undergo vibrational motion. The dimensions corresponding to the size and/or shape of the apertures, openings, or perforations formed on or through the baseplate can be varied so that different regions of the baseplate produce different frequency responses, allowing the net bandwidth of the ultrasonic transducer to be increased.

Abstract: A pattern of user activity is discovered and linked to a network service. The pattern is populated with information relevant to an expected activity of the user, and the populated pattern is provided in an automated message to the user. When the user accepts the message, the expected activity is performed on behalf of the user by the network service with the populated information or the expected activity is automatically scheduled for future performance on behalf of the user by the network service with the populated information.

Abstract: Systems and methods of audio processing and control for improved audibility and performance in a parametric loudspeaker system. The parametric loudspeaker system includes a parametric loudspeaker providing a capacitive load, an output stage having a plurality of switches interconnected in a bridge configuration and connected to the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker, and a controller operative to generate a series of pulse width modulation (PWM) pulses, and to generate a plurality of control signals synchronized with the series of PWM pulses for switchingly controlling the plurality of switches in the bridge configuration, thereby driving the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for closing a liftgate. That apparatus includes a handle displaceable between a stowed position and a deployed position, a latch to releasably hold the handle in the stowed position, an actuator to displace the handle into the deployed position and a release feature to release the latch and deploy the handle. A liftgate assembly incorporating that apparatus and a method of closing a liftgate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lever assembly is for an operating mechanism of an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a number of pairs of separable contacts structured to move from a CLOSED position to a TRIPPED OPEN position in response to a trip condition. The operating mechanism has an enclosure member and a number of biasing elements coupled to the enclosure member. The biasing elements are structured to move the separable contacts from the CLOSED position to the TRIPPED OPEN position. The lever assembly includes a lever member structured to engage the enclosure member, and a component located on the lever member. The component is structured to extend through each of the biasing elements in order to lengthen each of the biasing elements when the separable contacts are in the CLOSED position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for interacting with a consumer ledger. The systems and methods include: receiving a copy of the consumer ledger from one of a plurality of miners; adding a transaction to the consumer ledger; and transmitting the consumer ledger to the plurality of miners for conformation.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly is provided. The adaptor assembly is structured to allow a cable of a first amperage to be coupled to, and placed in electrical communication with, a terminal of a different amperage. That is, an adaptor assembly includes a lug body and an adaptor body. The adaptor body is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the lug body. The lug body includes a cable passage, wherein said cable passage has a cross-sectional area corresponding to a cable of a first amperage. The adaptor body includes a conducting surface, wherein said conducting surface has a surface area corresponding to a conductor terminal end mating surface of a second amperage.

Abstract: Amplifier architecture that allows low-cost class-D audio amplifiers to be compatible with ultrasonic signals, as well as loads presented by thin-film ultrasonic transducers. The amplifier architecture replaces the traditional capacitor used as an output filter in the class-D amplifier with the natural capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer load, and employs relative impedance magnitudes to create an under-damped low-pass filter that boosts voltage in the ultrasonic frequency band of interest. The amplifier architecture includes a secondary feedback loop to ensure that correct output voltage levels are provided.

Abstract: A method of controlling delivery of chemicals from a DC powered reciprocating chemical injection pump to a well head, the method including the steps, in any convenient order, of collecting voltage analogue signals indicative of activation of the pump from the DC motor of the chemical injection pump, thereafter converting the voltage signals to digital signals and analyzing the digital signals to identify successive strokes of the pump, using the counted strokes to indicate when a required amount of chemical has been delivered to the well head, and thereafter deactivating the current to the pump for a selected time period, the sequence continuing whereby to regularly provide measured or calculated volumes of chemical to the well head via the injection pump.

Abstract: A sensor acquisition and analytics platform for enhancing interaction with adult devices. More specifically, the integration of social networking and gamification (i.e., adding game-like features to the interactions between adult devices and the user(s)) frameworks towards enhancing user interactions and joint activities surrounding adult devices, services, and/or content is introduced. Additionally, analytics and learning intelligence (in the form of adaptive learning or behavioral pattern prediction) may be implemented (either as part of the framework or separately), which serves to discover appropriate connections, mappings, or associations between adult device characteristics/settings and measured sensor information (including user biometrics, forces, pressure, motion, etc.).

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, and software for identity verification. Some such embodiments identify a user based on analysis of their handwriting. Some such embodiments may be utilized to authenticate an individual, for emergency authentication or when other authentication solutions are not available, as one of a two or more step authentication process, authenticating checks, authenticating a signature or other handwriting on another document, and the like. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes storing a set of handwriting characteristics of an individual identified during processing of a plurality of handwriting samples of the individual. The method may then determine whether an input handwriting sample is handwriting of the individual based on the stored set of handwriting characteristics of the individual and then output a result of the determining.