Abstract: A battery system includes a battery module, an active cell balancing circuit, and a battery controller. Each cell has diametrically-opposed positive and negative cell tabs. The circuit includes voltage sensors and, at each end of the battery module, first and second tiers of switches and an energy storage element. Each voltage sensor is located between a different pair of adjacent cells. The controller receives measured voltages from the sensors indicative of an electric potential between adjacent battery cells. Responsive to the measured voltages, the controller commands the first tier to selectively connect or disconnect designated pairs of cells to the corresponding second tier. The controller also commands the second tier to selectively connect or disconnect the designated cells to a corresponding energy storage element. This action shuttles energy between the designated pairs of battery cells to balance a state of charge.

Abstract: A high-voltage electrical system includes a high-voltage electrical bus, a low-voltage controller performing battery management system (BMS) functions, and a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) connected to the HV electrical bus. The RESS has contactors connected to the voltage rails, a battery pack, a current sensor outputting a voltage signal indicative of pack current, cell monitoring units (CMUs) connected to designated battery cells that measure corresponding cell voltages, and voltage isolation hardware between the CMUs and the LV controller. The voltage isolation hardware includes the contactors and may include a transformer. The RESS and LV controller are connected via LV serial connections such that the LV controller performs the designated BMS functions, including monitoring the pack current and controlling an open/closed state of the contactors. A powertrain system includes the electrical system, an electric machine, and a coupled load.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a first power gate transistor coupled to an ungated power supply node and a gated power supply node, the first power gate transistor having a gate terminal controllable by a first logic; and a second power gate coupled to the ungated power supply node and the gated power supply node, the second power gate transistor having a gate terminal controllable by a second logic, wherein the first power gate transistor is larger than the second power gate transistor, and wherein the second logic is operable to: weakly turn on the second power gate, fully turn on the second power gate, turn off the second power gate, and connecting the second power gate as diode.

Abstract: A battery module for use with a controller includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted to a plurality of battery cells. The PCBA includes a substrate, a radio frequency (RF) communications circuit, a cell sensing circuit, and a conductive interconnecting member. The cell sensing circuit is operable for measuring a respective cell voltage of each of the battery cells. The conductive interconnect member forms an electrical connection between the battery cells. The RF communications circuit is in wireless communication with the controller and is operable for wirelessly transmitting the measured cell voltages to the controller. A battery system includes a master battery controller and the battery pack. A vehicle includes an electric machine operable for generating output torque for propelling the vehicle, as well as the battery system noted above.

Abstract: A method of generating a high-power Radio-Frequency ultrashort waveform comprising the steps of generating an input waveform at a relatively low power level from an impulse response characteristic of a reverberant cavity via one-bit quantization and time reversal; generating an amplified input waveform of a power higher than the input waveform via feeding the input waveform into one or more amplifiers; generating a compressed ultrashort pulse having a high power relative to the amplified input waveform via feeding the amplified input waveform into the reverberant cavity.

Abstract: Reinforcement structures used with a thinned wafer and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming trenches or vias at least partially through a backside of a thinned wafer attached to a carrier wafer. The method further includes depositing material within the trenches or vias to form reinforcement structures on the backside of the thinned wafer. The method further includes removing excess material from a surface of the thinned wafer, which was deposited during the depositing of the material within the vias.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes filled dual reinforcing trenches that reduce curvature of the semiconductor structure by stiffening the semiconductor structure. The filled dual reinforcing trenches reduce curvature by acting against transverse loading, axial loading, and/or torsional loading of the semiconductor structure that would otherwise result in semiconductor structure curvature. The filled dual reinforcing trenches may be located in an array throughout the semiconductor structure, in particular locations within the semiconductor structure, or at the perimeter of the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A three plate MIM capacitor structure includes a three plate MIM capacitor, a first wire in a metal layer above/below the three plate MIM, a second wire below/above the three plate MIM, a third wire below/above the three plate MIM, a first via connected to the first test wire, a second via connected to a middle plate of the three plate MIM, and a third via connected to the top and bottom plates of the three plate MIM. The test structure may verify the integrity the MIM capacitor by applying a potential to the first test wire, applying ground potential to both the second test wire and the third test wire, and detecting leakage current across the first wire and the second and third wires or detecting leakage current across the second wire and the third wire.

Abstract: A three plate MIM capacitor test structure includes a three plate MIM capacitor, a first test wire in a metal layer above/below the three plate MIM, a second test wire below/above the three plate MIM, a third test wire below/above the three plate MIM, a first via connected to the first test wire, a second via connected to a middle plate of the three plate MIM, and a third via connected to the top and bottom plates of the three plate MIM. The test structure may verify the integrity the MIM capacitor by applying a potential to the first test wire, applying ground potential to both the second test wire and the third test wire, and detecting leakage current across the first test wire and the second and third test wires or detecting leakage current across the second test wire and the third test wire.

Abstract: A food assembly line is provided for assembling a food item according to an order. The food assembly line includes multiple work stations at which the food item may be positioned, and a display system including a display device at each of the multiple work stations. The display system is configured to display information associated with the order at the display devices. The display system is further configured to update the display devices during assembly of the food item so that each display device displays at least a portion of the information when the food item is positioned proximate the display device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cosmetic applicator brush comprising a plurality of discs assembled relative to one another with each disc having a body with a plurality of bristles or combs extending radially therefrom, a conical, and a plurality of wires, where the plurality of wires pass through a wire passage of each of the plurality of discs, and the plurality of discs are stacked or linked without any angular offset or with a uniform angular offset so that alignment of bristles for the stacked discs is uniform. The conical is injection molded with the plurality of wires, and a top portion of the cosmetic applicator brush has the conical. After the plurality of discs are stacked or linked, the plurality of wires are twisted at a bottom portion of the cosmetic applicator brush so that the discs are securely linked or stacked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cassette framing system consisting of at least one hinge assembly and cassette, with a cassette frame, which allows for loading the top of a cassette frame onto a structural mullion located within a cassette framing system. The hinge assembly permits the installer to stabilize and align the cassette and cassette frame during the installation of the cassette frame onto the cassette framing system. The cassette framing system permits the use of a plurality of different types of infill materials within the cassette. The use of a hinge assembly permits ease of field installation while employing narrow joint profiles which have aesthetic benefits.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for transmitting (electromagnetic or acoustic) wave-based signals towards a target includes a plurality of transceivers and a controller. Each transceiver transmits a probe signal towards the target and receives an associated backscatter signal corresponding to reflection of the probe signals from the target. The controller determines, for each transceiver, a Doppler frequency shift and a time delay, modifies each associated backscatter signal based on the corresponding Doppler frequency shift and time delay to generate an associated motion-compensated backscatter signal, and applies time reversal (TR) processing to each motion-compensated backscatter signal to generate an associated motion-compensated TR signal. Each transceiver transmits towards the target a transmission signal based the associated motion-compensated TR signal. In communications systems, the transmission signals are data-modulated versions of the motion-compensated TR signals.

Abstract: The description relates to auto-calendaring. One example can obtain content relating to a calendarable event. The example can also communicate the content to an auto-calendaring service. The example can also receive a response from the auto-calendaring service. The response can indicate that the calendarable event has been added to a calendar or can request further information about the calendarable event.

Abstract: A three plate MIM capacitor test structure includes a three plate MIM capacitor, a first test wire in a metal layer above/below the three plate MIM, a second test wire below/above the three plate MIM, a third test wire below/above the three plate MIM, a first via connected to the first test wire, a second via connected to a middle plate of the three plate MIM, and a third via connected to the top and bottom plates of the three plate MIM. The test structure may verify the integrity the MIM capacitor by applying a potential to the first test wire, applying ground potential to both the second test wire and the third test wire, and detecting leakage current across the first test wire and the second and third test wires or detecting leakage current across the second test wire and the third test wire.

Abstract: A three plate MIM capacitor structure includes a three plate MIM capacitor, a first wire in a metal layer above/below the three plate MIM, a second wire below/above the three plate MIM, a third wire below/above the three plate MIM, a first via connected to the first test wire, a second via connected to a middle plate of the three plate MIM, and a third via connected to the top and bottom plates of the three plate MIM. The test structure may verify the integrity the MIM capacitor by applying a potential to the first test wire, applying ground potential to both the second test wire and the third test wire, and detecting leakage current across the first wire and the second and third wires or detecting leakage current across the second wire and the third wire.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing lubricant base oils from petrolatum. After solvent dewaxing of a brightstock raffinate to form a brightstock base oil, petrolatum is generated as a side product. The petrolatum can be hydroprocessed to form base oils in high yield. The base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have an unexpected pour point relationship. For a typical lubricant oil feedstock, the pour point of the base oils generated from the feedstock increases with the viscosity of the base oil. By contrast, lubricant base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have a relatively flat pour point relationship, and some of the higher viscosity base oils unexpectedly have lower pour points than lower viscosity base oils generated from the same petrolatum feed. The base oils from petrolatum are also unusual in yielding both high viscosity and high viscosity index and can be generated while maintaining a high yield.

Abstract: The description relates to auto-calendaring. One example can obtain content relating to a calendarable event. The example can also communicate the content to an auto-calendaring service. The example can also receive a response from the auto-calendaring service. The response can indicate that the calendarable event has been added to a calendar or can request further information about the calendarable event.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cosmetic applicator brush comprising a plurality of columns, and a shaft. The shaft comprises a plurality of opening parts around a circumference of the shaft, and the plurality of opening parts are spaced around the circumference in a radial direction of the shaft. Each of the plurality of columns comprises bristles or combs. Each of bristles or combs has a projecting part, which are inserted into the plurality of columns with an equal distance or different distances among them. A number of the plurality of opening parts around the circumference of the shaft is both even and odd number. The plurality of columns are inserted into the opening parts of the shaft irregularly to show the zigzag effect of the cosmetic applicator brush.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a Web browser receives user input in the form of text that is entered in a suitably-configured text entry bar, such as an address bar. The web browser processes the text and ascertains whether the text appears to be a search or an attempted navigation. Based on whether the text appears to be a search or an attempted navigation, the web browser communicates the text to a search provider, along with an indication of whether the text appears to be a search or an attempted navigation. The search provider receives the text and the indication and can then take appropriate action as by returning a search results page or causing the web browser to be redirected to a website associated with the received text.