Abstract: A method for calibrating a dead-zone of an analogue stick of a controller for a gaming system, the method comprising: determining a stationary time period, wherein the stationary time period is a period of time since the controller previously moved; when the stationary time period is equal to or greater than a threshold time period, determining a current position of the analogue stick of the controller relative to a neutral position of the analogue stick; and when the current position of the analogue stick is outside a dead-zone of the analogue stick, generating an adjusted dead-zone by adjusting a geometry of the dead-zone, wherein the current position of the analogue stick is inside the adjusted dead-zone.

Abstract: Continuous compression molding machines (CCMMs) and methods of continuous compression molding a consolidated thermoplastic matrix composite material are disclosed herein. The CCMMs include a mold, a heat zone heating structure, a consolidation zone heating structure, and a stress relaxation zone heating structure. The CCMMs also include a press structure, a demold structure, and a supply structure. The methods include providing a thermoplastic matrix composite material (TMCM) that includes a thermoplastic material to a CCMM. During the providing, the methods also include heating the TMCM within a heat zone of the CCMM, cooling and consolidating the TMCM within a consolidation zone of the CCMM, relaxing stress within the TMCM within a stress relaxation zone of the CCMM, demolding the TMCM within a demold zone of the CCMM at a mold temperature that is greater than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material, and periodically compressing the TMCM.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for inspecting an aircraft. A computer system receives captured data associated with a flight path flown by an unmanned aircraft system to acquire the captured data for the aircraft. The computer system compares the captured data with reference data for the aircraft to form a comparison. The computer system determines whether the captured data is within a set of tolerances for valid captured data using a result of the comparison. Prior to detecting anomalies for the aircraft using the captured data, the computer system determines a set of corrective actions in response to the captured data being outside of the set of tolerances for the valid captured data in which the set of corrective actions is performed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a syringe including a container, for containing a primary fluid, and at least one secondary fluid chamber configured to contain a secondary fluid. The container comprises a proximal end and a distal end and having a distal end opening at the distal end. The syringe further comprises a stopper, movably arranged within the container; and a plunger engageable with the stopper and configured to apply a force to the stopper to move the stopper within the container towards the distal end of the container, to expel primary fluid from the container through the distal end opening. The plunger is further configured to expel secondary fluid from the at least one secondary fluid chamber towards the distal end opening, to expel at least a portion of a residual volume of primary fluid through the distal end opening. A plunger system and assembly for a syringe and methods of expelling fluid from a syringe are also disclosed.

Abstract: An interface for positive pressure respiratory therapy includes a mask assembly having a mask seal and a mask shell. The mask assembly is positioned lower than and exposes a bridge of the user's nose. The mask seal includes first and second portions on respective first and second sides of a nasal region that contact opposing sides of the user's nose. The first and second portions each include supports that help maintain a shape of the mask seal. A pair of covers can be supported relative to the mask assembly and adjacent a respective one of the first and second portions of the mask seal. The covers limit expansion of the first and second portions of the mask seal in response to pressurized air within the mask seal. The supports of the first and second portions can transfer load from the mask seal to the covers.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an anomaly of an optically transparent or translucent object are disclosed. The system and method include a light source configured to emit light, a light transmission element having a textured surface, and an optical couplant configured to be disposed between the light transmission element and the object. At least a portion of the light emitted by the light source is configured to pass into the light transmission element through the textured surface and pass into the object through the optical couplant. At least a portion of the light that passes into the object internally reflects within the object and impinges on the anomaly to provide an illumination that indicates the location of the anomaly.

Abstract: A gladhand coupler assembly is configured to releasably couple to a gladhand coupler having a mating seal and first and second mating structures. The gladhand coupler assembly includes an assembly mating seal for interfacing with the gladhand coupler mating seal and first and second assembly mating structures coupled to the assembly mating seal. The first and second assembly mating structures are configured to interface with the gladhand coupler first and second mating structures, respectively. The gladhand coupler assembly further includes an actuation mechanism configured to move the assembly mating seal relative to the pair of rigidly fixed assembly mating structures. The gladhand actuation mechanism is further configured to place the assembly mating seal into and out of fluid communication with the gladhand coupler mating seal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for auto-configuring a newly purchased user equipment (UE) device with content consumption material that is associated with a user. These methods and systems are provided by way of receiving, in response to the user having purchased the UE device, purchase information (e.g., a credit card number) and a UE device identifier (e.g., a serial number of a purchased UE device). After receipt of this information, a database is searched to identify a user account that is associated with the purchase information. The user account identifies content consumption material that has been processed by other UE devices to enable the user to consume content. A communication is then transmitted to the UE device that causes the UE device to be configured with the identified content consumption material.

Abstract: A system for aiding surgery on a patient is described including a display device and a storage device that stores an image of at least a portion of the anatomy of the patient, including one or more surgical navigation markers positioned on the patient, for display on the display device. An analyser is adapted to receive positional data of a probe based on positioning of the probe relative to the one or more markers on the patient. Based on the positional data, the analyser outputs correctional data to adjust an alignment of the image on the display device to match locations of said one or more markers.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a gas mixer that includes a convergent-divergent nozzle comprising a convergent portion and a divergent portion and defining a first gas flow path, an air housing comprising an air inlet configured to supply air to the first gas flow path upstream of the convergent-divergent nozzle, a gas housing defining a second gas flow path and including a first gas inlet configured to receive a secondary gas and allow the secondary gas into a second gas flow path, and a gas nozzle positioned parallel to and centrally within the first gas flow path in a convergent portion of the convergent-divergent nozzle, the gas nozzle configured to supply the secondary gas to the first gas flow path upstream of the divergent portion.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for transferring information from at least one instrument to an application, including: establishing a central protocol structure, wherein the central protocol structure defines a format for information transmitted utilizing the central protocol structure; receiving, at the application and over a wireless communication channel information from the at least one instrument, wherein the information is formatted in view of the central protocol structure; and performing, within the application, an action with respect to the information within the application, wherein the performing comprises deciphering the information contained in view of the central protocol structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the monitoring of products by means of active radio tags. According to the invention, packagings of products are provided with an active radio tag that detects at least one environmental condition and/or at least one packaging state, and which emits a signal at time intervals, which provides information about a unique identifier and at least one state in which the respective product is found. The signal is picked up by a receiver that extracts the unique identifier and the state information and transmits same together with location information to an external server.

Abstract: The invention relates to the monitoring of products by means of active radio tags. According to the invention, packagings of products are provided with an active radio tag that detects at least one environmental condition and/or at least one packaging state, and which emits a signal at time intervals, which provides information about a unique identifier and at least one state in which the respective product is found. The signal is picked up by a receiver that extracts the unique identifier and the state information and transmits same together with location information to an external server.

Abstract: A system for detecting deposit formation on electrically-conductive materials in vapor and liquid phases includes a test cell for receiving a test liquid (e.g., a lubricant). A heater heats the test liquid to generate a vapor phase of the test liquid in the test cell. A support frame supports at least a first set of electrical conductors in the test liquid and at least a second set of electrical conductors in the vapor phase, each of the first and second sets of conductors including a live electrical conductor and a neutral electrical conductor. A power source supplies an electric current to each of the live electrical conductors. A sensor component detects an electrical property each of the sets of conductors, the electrical property changing in response to formation of an electrically-conductive deposit which connects the first and second conductors in a respective set of conductors. Preferably, the electrical properties are detected by magnetic sensors, such as Hall effect sensors or eddy current sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to the monitoring of products by means of active radio tags. According to the invention, packagings of products are provided with an active radio tag that detects at least one environmental condition and/or at least one packaging state, and which emits a signal at time intervals, which provides information about a unique identifier and at least one state in which the respective product is found. The signal is picked up by a receiver that extracts the unique identifier and the state information and transmits same together with location information to an external server.

Abstract: There are shown and described embodiments of a closure device for closing holes in tissue, for example in the right atrial appendage. The closure device in particular embodiments includes first and second mesh closure members and a tether or stem connecting them. Embodiments of a delivery device for the closure device are also described.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.

Abstract: A method for interacting with a user to create a three-dimensional (3D) model is provided. The method may include causing a capture device to start a first scan on a reference surface; instructing the user to make a first movement during the first scan; generating a 3D data representation of the reference surface based on data acquired in the first scan; displaying the 3D data representation on the GUI; causing the capture device to start a second scan on the reference surface; instruct the user to make a second movement during the second scan; generating a location tracking data representation of the reference surface based on data acquired in the second scan; displaying the location tracking data representation on the GUI; and causing the capture device to generate a 3D model of the reference surface based on the 3D data representation and the location tracking data representation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for creating a 3D model of a reference surface. The method includes capturing, using a capture device, a plurality of data points on the reference surface, determining a position and an orientation of the capture device related to the capture of the plurality of data points, creating a 3D data representation of the reference surface based on the plurality of data points, creating a location tracking data representation of the reference surface based the plurality of data points on the reference surface and the position and the orientation of the capture device, and creating the 3D model of the reference surface based on the 3D data representation and the location tracking data representation of the reference surface.