Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving a first communication as part of a conversation, from an unauthenticated user of a web browser. A conversation identifier is determined based on the first communication. A first responder, a communication protocol, and a communication address of the first responder is determined. The first communication is sent to the first responder and a first reply is received. The conversation identifier is determined based on the first reply and the first reply is mapped to the web browser. The first reply is sent to the web browser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a homogeneous aligned liquid crystal polymer film, a polymer film obtainable from the corresponding method of production, and to the use of such polymer film for optical components and electro-optical decorative, as well as to components and devices comprising such polymer film.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, an insulating layer that includes an etch stop layer formed over an upper surface of the substrate, a first conductive region formed over the insulating layer, and an opening formed within the substrate that extends from a lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region. A method for forming the device includes forming the substrate, forming the insulating layer that includes the etch stop layer over the upper surface of the substrate, forming a first conductive region over the insulating layer; and forming an opening within the substrate that extends from the lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region formed over the insulating layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat sensor cable having: a conductor defining a conductor first end and a conductor body extending by a first longitudinal span from the conductor first end to a conductor second end; a coil that is non-conductive and includes a coil first end and a coil body extending by a second longitudinal span from the coil first end to a coil second end, wherein the coil surrounds the conductor from the conductor first end to the conductor second end; an outer sheath that is conductive and includes an outer sheath first end and an outer sheath body extending by a third longitudinal span from the outer sheath first end to an outer sheath second end, wherein the outer sheath surrounds the coil from the conductor first end to the conductor second end; and an eutectic salt that is disbursed between the conductor and the outer sheath.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate that includes a plurality of epitaxial layers, including a channel layer and a permanent cap over the channel layer, where the permanent cap defines an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a sacrificial cap over the permanent cap in an active region of the device, where the sacrificial cap comprises a semiconductor material that includes aluminum. The method also includes forming one or more current carrying regions (e.g., source and drain regions) in the semiconductor substrate in the active region of the device by performing an ion implantation process to implant ions through the sacrificial cap, and into the semiconductor substrate, completely removing the sacrificial cap in the active region of the device, while refraining from removing the permanent cap, and forming one or more current carrying contacts over the one or more current carrying regions.

Abstract: A high-pressure valve assembly includes a valve body, a unibody choke valve stem, and a unibody choke valve seat having surface hardened wear surfaces formed thereon. The wear surfaces formed are interacting wear surfaces, as with tribological applications. The wear surfaces are hardened using a boronization process or a thermal spray application process. The boronization process is performed using discrete parameters to obtain one of a minimum depth of deposited boronization elements and a desired measured surface hardness value.

Abstract: A tubular hardbanded component that includes a body having an exterior surface, and a hardbanding treatment positioned at least partially about the exterior surface of said body. The hardbanding treatment includes a) a continuous band that forms one or more complete rotations about said exterior surface of said body, or b) a continuous band that forms less than one complete rotation about said exterior surface of said body. The continuous band is formed of a first hardbanding layer, a second hardbanding layer, and a third hardbanding layer.

Abstract: A coupler for releasably coupling an attachment to a heavy-equipment machine. The coupler comprises a frame, and a plurality of connection elements extending from the frame, with the connection elements configured to engage with the attachment. The coupler additionally comprises a locking pin configured to extend simultaneously through the frame and the attachment. The coupler further comprises a locking element configured to selectively engage with the locking pin to securely couple the coupler to the attachment. The coupler further comprises an actuator configured to shift the locking element between an unlocked position and a locked position.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a plurality of LIDAR units. Each of the LIDAR units includes a housing defining a cavity. Each of the LIDAR units further includes a plurality of emitters disposed within the cavity. Each of the plurality of emitters is configured to emit a laser beam. The LIDAR system includes a rotating mirror and a retarder. The retarder is configurable in at least a first mode and a second mode to control a polarization state of a plurality of laser beams emitted from each of the plurality of LIDAR units. The LIDAR system includes a polarizing beam splitter positioned relative to the retarder such that the polarizing beam splitter receives a plurality of laser beams exiting the retarder. The polarizing beam is configured to transmit or reflect the plurality of laser beams exiting the retarder based on the polarization state of the laser beams exiting the retarder.

Abstract: An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a second carrier and a clutch engagement member. The electric powertrain further includes a sun gear in the form of a ring gear and planet gears in the form of a first output shaft. To provide a compact configuration, the first electric motor and the first gear train are sandwiched between the sun gear and the planet gears.

Abstract: A tubular component (e.g., a drill pipe, work string pipe, etc.) with one or more hardbanding treatments on an external surface of the tubular component. One or more or all of the hardbanding treatments have a helical or spiral shape. The hardbanding treatment provides 1) enhanced durability to the central region of the tubular component at potentially lower costs, 2) enhanced strength and/or rigidity of the central region of the tubular component to reduce the amount of bending or flexing of the tubular component during the insertion and/or removal of the tubular component into/from a wellbore, and/or 3) improved fluid and debris flow about the central region of the tubular component.

Abstract: Provided is a process for providing a flake powder characterized by a particle size of ?40 mesh to +200 mesh; a Scott density of at least 1.458 g/cm3; and a flow of at least 1 g/s. The process includes introducing a milled flake powder in a solvent to a first dryer; removing the solvent at a temperature below a melting point of the solvent under a reduced atmosphere to obtain a partially dry flake powder; and introducing the partially dry flake powder to a second dryer to form flake powder wherein particles of partially dry flake powder are heated and simultaneously subjected to an uncorrelated motion relative to adjacent particles.

Abstract: A virtual network comprising virtual machines executing at a computing environment is implemented. A floating network interface is attached to a software defined networking (SDN) appliance. The floating network interface is configured to provide a connection to computing resources via a virtual network of a virtual computing environment, and the floating network interface is attachable to and detachable from the SDN appliance. The SDN appliance is configured to apply policies of the virtual computing environment to data traffic on the virtual network.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling operational states of a hardware matching processor includes monitoring, by a circuit breaker, incoming electronic data transaction request messages to the hardware matching processor; dynamically defining a range of values as a function of values included with electronic data transaction request messages received during a rolling lookback window; detecting that an incoming electronic data transaction request message contains a value outside the range of values; transitioning the electronic data transaction processing system into a pre-open state for a predetermined period, thereby preventing the hardware matching processor from matching incoming electronic data transaction request messages; calculating a pre-open value at an end of the pre-open state; and re-opening the electronic data transaction processing system at the calculated pre-open value, thereby allowing the hardware matching processor to match incoming electronic data transaction request messages.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.

Abstract: An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. To provide a compact configuration, the first electric motor and second electric motor are arranged in a longitudinal orientation with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A system and a method may include one or more sensors disposed onboard a vehicle that may sense one or more characteristics of the vehicle. The system may include one or more processors configured to determining an identification of a switch on a route along which a vehicle moves using one or more sensors onboard the vehicle. A location of the switch is identified with the one or more sensors. A state of the switch is determined with the one or more sensors. The identification of the switch, location of the switch, and the state of the switch are communicated with an off-board database.

Abstract: Fibrous structures, and more particularly sanitary tissue products containing fibrous structures having a surface exhibiting a three-dimensional (3D) pattern such that the fibrous structure and/or sanitary tissue product exhibits novel properties compared to known fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products, and methods for making same are provided.

Abstract: A sofa frame covered by a form fitting upholstery sack where the upholstery sack incorporates integrated support webbing comprising a plurality of webbing straps. With the upholstery sack properly positioned on the back rest portion, the support webbing is positioned on the front of the back rest portion frame. The upholstery sack is pre-formed to snugly fit over the back rest portion of the sofa frame. Installation time is decreased when compared to the time required for conventional webbing and upholstery installations.

Abstract: A connected classroom system provides for local and remote control and display of media streams. An instructor may, for instance, direct audio/video streams of the instructor to any number of displays and speakers located within a classroom. The system may send and receive control instructions to and from remote classrooms as well, through a network interface. The control instructions may configure any set of presentation devices in any classroom to reproduce any content originating from any source within any classroom. Accordingly, multiple classrooms located in disparate locations may participate in media exchanges arising from any source, including instructors and individual student seating locations within the classrooms.