Abstract: A thermal reuse system includes a compressor operable to increase a pressure of a working fluid, an external coil, a thermal expansion valve, a conditioned space coil, and a cabin thermal system. The cabin thermal system includes a living space coil operable to cool or warm a working fluid according to the operational mode, and a living space thermal expansion valve operable to increase or decrease a temperature of the working fluid according to the operational mode. In a conditioned space heating or cooling operational mode, the working fluid flows between the compressor, the external coil, the thermal expansion valve, and the conditioned space coil. In a living space heating or cooling operational mode, the working fluid flows between the compressor, the external coil, the living space thermal expansion valve, and the living space coil.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle (RV) may include may include a chassis including longitudinal frame rails, an axle, and an RV body. The RV body may include an RV roof. The RV roof may include foam core units, a composite shell, and a biaxial glass perimeter along a perimeter of the RV roof. The RV may further include an RV battery that may be positioned between the longitudinal frame rails, forward of a center of mass of the RV, and below the RV floor of the RV body. The RV may also include a range extender that may be positioned between the longitudinal frame rails, rearward of the center of mass of the RV, and below the RV floor of the RV body. The RV may further include an electric motor that may be positioned rearward of the center of mass of the RV.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle (RV) may include a battery, a charging receptacle electrically coupled to the battery, a power measurement device electrically coupled to the charging receptacle, and a charge schedule generation system. The charge schedule generation system may include at least one processor communicatively coupled to the battery and the power measurement device and at least one non-transitory memory module communicatively coupled to the processor. Machine readable instructions of the non-transitory memory module may cause the processor to generate a charge schedule based on incoming power as measured by the power measurement device, a desired state of charge of the battery, and historical trends as to when peak charging hours occur. The at least one processor may further charge the battery according to the charge schedule.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle (RV) includes a battery module that is charged when the RV battery module has a state of charge below a threshold and voltage is received at one or more of an RV AC input receptacle and a bi-directional receptacle, or voltage is received at a solar module. AC voltage is provided at an AC outlet receptacle to power one or more of a grid and a building when the battery module has a state of charge above a threshold and voltage is received at one or more of the RV AC input receptacle and the bi-directional receptacle, or DC voltage is received at the solar module. AC voltage is provided at the AC outlet receptacle to power the building when the battery module has a state of charge above a threshold and no voltage is received at the RV AC input receptacle or the RV bi-directional receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments include articles, authentication methods and apparatus, and article manufacturing methods. An article includes a substrate with a first luminescent taggant, and an extrinsic feature with a second luminescent taggant, which is positioned proximate a portion of the article surface. The first and second taggants produce emissions in overlapping emission bands as a result of exposure to excitation energy. Above the extrinsic feature, the substrate and extrinsic feature emissions combine in the overlapping emission band to produce “confounded” emissions that are distinguishable from the substrate emissions taken alone. An authentication system determines whether, in a region corresponding to a “substrate-only” region of an authentic article, emissions having first emission characteristics are detected in the overlapping emission band.

Abstract: A method of cleaning calibration and other substrates that improves the correlation of measurements from calibration and product substrates and increases the useful life of the calibration substrates is herein disclosed. By exposing a calibration substrate to ultraviolet light, a reaction is triggered that results in the cleaning of the contaminants from the calibration substrate. For instance, monatomic oxygen is introduced to contaminants on the surface of a calibration substrate to remove the contaminants without inducing modifications in the substrate itself. Through the cleaning process, the temperature of the calibration substrate may be controlled to limit adverse effects caused by the overheating of the calibration substrate.

Abstract: A sound classification system for a vehicle includes a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphones disposed at the equipped vehicle and sensing sounds emanating from exterior of the equipped vehicle. A sound processor is operable to process outputs of the MEMS microphones to classify a source of sensed sounds. The sound processor processes the outputs to determine the direction and distance of the source of the sensed sounds relative to the equipped vehicle. The MEMS microphones are one of (i) incorporated in respective ones of a plurality of exterior viewing cameras of the equipped vehicle and (ii) attached at a surface of at least one window of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for continuous polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a water-in-oil inverse emulsion under adiabatic conditions without the need for external cooling during the polymerization. The method comprises neutralizing a monomer composition comprising at least one acidic vinyl monomer with a base in an aqueous medium comprising water and water ice to form an aqueous monomer solution therefrom; homogenizing and degassing to form an inverse monomer emulsion; initiating polymerization; passing the inverse emulsion through a tube reactor without cooling, and flash evaporating a portion of the water from inverse emulsion to cool and concentrate the resulting polymer-containing inverse emulsion. During neutralization, the aqueous medium comprises an amount of water ice sufficient to maintain a temperature of 30° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, films and devices for sensing gas molecules. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compositions, films and devices for sensing gas molecules utilizing optical sensing techniques having improved optical properties including a fluorinated protective layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, films and devices for sensing gas molecules. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compositions, films and devices for sensing gas molecules utilizing optical sensing techniques having improved optical properties.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).

Abstract: Embodiments include articles, authentication methods and apparatus, and article manufacturing methods. An article includes a substrate with a first luminescent taggant, and an extrinsic feature with a second luminescent taggant, which is positioned proximate a portion of the article surface. The first and second taggants produce emissions in overlapping emission bands as a result of exposure to excitation energy. Above the extrinsic feature, the substrate and extrinsic feature emissions combine in the overlapping emission band to produce “confounded” emissions that are distinguishable from the substrate emissions taken alone. An authentication system determines whether, in a region corresponding to a “substrate-only” region of an authentic article, emissions having first emission characteristics are detected in the overlapping emission band.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for continuous polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a water-in-oil inverse emulsion under adiabatic conditions without the need for external cooling during the polymerization. The method comprises neutralizing a monomer composition comprising at least one acidic vinyl monomer with a base in an aqueous medium comprising water and water ice to form an aqueous monomer solution therefrom; homogenizing and degassing to form an inverse monomer emulsion; initiating polymerization; passing the inverse emulsion through a tube reactor without cooling, and flash evaporating a portion of the water from inverse emulsion to cool and concentrate the resulting polymer-containing inverse emulsion. During neutralization, the aqueous medium comprises an amount of water ice sufficient to maintain a temperature of 30° C.

Abstract: Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface.

Abstract: A method of cleaning calibration and other substrates that improves the correlation of measurements from calibration and product substrates and increases the useful life of the calibration substrates is herein disclosed. By exposing a calibration substrate to ultraviolet light, a reaction is triggered that results in the cleaning of the contaminants from the calibration substrate. For instance, monatomic oxygen is introduced to contaminants on the surface of a calibration substrate to remove the contaminants without inducing modifications in the substrate itself. Through the cleaning process, the temperature of the calibration substrate may be controlled to limit adverse effects caused by the overheating of the calibration substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for article authentication include an exciting radiation generator that exposes an area of the article to exciting radiation, and at least two radiation detectors that detect emitted radiation from the area in a first band and in a second band that does not overlap the first band. The first band corresponds with a first emission sub-band of an emitting ion, and the second band corresponds with a second emission sub-band of the same emitting ion. A processing system calculates a comparison value that represents a mathematical relationship (e.g., a ratio) between a first intensity of the emitted radiation in the first band with a second intensity of the emitted radiation in the second band, and determines whether the comparison value compares favorably with an authentication parameter. When the comparison value compares favorably with the authentication parameter, the article is identified as being authentic.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element, neodymium substituted for the first substitutable element at a first substitution percentage of at least about 20 percent, and ytterbium substituted for the first substitutable element at a second substitution percentage. The material also may include chromium substituted for a second substitutable element. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.

Abstract: Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B9O16-comprising crystal lattice. Neodymium and/or ytterbium are present within the host borate, and one or more substitutable elements are optionally present along with the neodymium and/or ytterbium within the host borate. The one or more substitutable elements are different from neodymium and ytterbium.

Abstract: Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface.